MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & COMMERCE • ANDY GIPSON, COMMISSIONER VOLUME 92 NUMBER 19 OCTOBER 1, 2020 JACKSON, MS Welcome to the 161st Mississippi State Fair – COVID Style By Donna West, Division Director about the importance and diversity the Magnolia Ramblers, Jerry Brooks Market Development – MDAC of agriculture – our state’s largest & Jack Beal, Bill, Temperance & Jeff industry. While there, you can shop and the Vernon Brothers. Also, the For the past 160 years, the Mis- a variety of wonderful Genuine MS® Mississippi Beef Council and the MS sissippi State Fair, located in the items at our first ever Genuine MS® Cattlemen’s Association will present capital city of Jackson, has been the store. the Celebrity Beef Cookout Contest. designated site for adventure, enter- Don’t forget the pig races, pet- Wednesday, October 14, is tainment, competition and feasting. ting zoo, fetch-n-fish, Great Ameri- ALL AMERICAN DAY! Because of Surrounded by 105-acres of open can Thrill Show, antique tractor COVID-19, this event is in place of space, livestock barns, and exhibit show, and the 4-H and FFA livestock Senior American Day. Instead, if you buildings, the mile-long midway has shows. Do not miss the Horse, Mule are able, join us during lunch on the overflowed with breathtaking rides, and Pony Pull, the Fiddle Contest main stage from 11:00 a.m. until curious displays, tasty treats and a and the Pretty Cow Contest. Drop 1:00 p.m. to enjoy your favorite pa- multitude of other attractions. In by Commissioner Gipson’s Genuine triotic songs and some words from this 161st year of the State Fair, ex- MS® truck (located next to the bis- Commissioner Gipson. pect more of the same, but present- cuit booth) for a free picture. Of course, there are the rides that ed just a little bit differently. On the Budweiser stage, enter- make us laugh, squeal and zone “This year, many of us are finding tainment includes Mustache the out. Check out these ride features: ourselves facing extra challenges, Band, Roots and Boots, Epic Funk Sneak-A-Peak, $2 Rides, Kids Day, many stemming from the COVID-19 Brass Band, Dirt Road Cadillac, Paul Ride-A-Thon, and Ride Survivor. Porter and the Christianaires, U.S., This is just a glimpse into the pandemic,” said Andy Gipson, Com- the grounds and encouraging social Great White/Slaughter, Big Blues magical Mississippi State Fair. You missioner of Agriculture and Com- distancing of six feet. The entire Explosion, Sean Kingston, South- will have to visit, safely and respon- merce. Adding, “In these unprec- complex has limited the number of ern Komfort Brass Band, 601 Live, sibly, to experience it all! edented times, it was especially guests, and each indoor building has and Topher Brown Band. From the For additional information, down- important that we carry on the posted building limits. There will be Trustmark stage, hear Wolf Trap load the MS State Fair app, follow long-standing tradition of bringing an increase of cleaning high-touch Trio, TB Ledford & the Accumula- on Facebook/Mississippi State Fair, the Mississippi State Fairgrounds to surfaces. In addition, all partici- tors, Magnolia Drive, Alan Sibley & Instagram and Twitter @msstatefair. life for 12 days of fun-filled family pants will be required to wear face entertainment; our staff has taken coverings upon entry, and staff will extra precautions to keep our visi- wear face coverings when greeting tors safe.” the public. Added Lasseter. “Please Opening day is Wednesday, bring your family and come to enjoy October 7, 2020 and with a hospi- this wonderful event.” table scissor snip of ribbon at 5:00 The largest buffet in the state can p.m. at gate 1 on Amite and Jeffer- be found stretching the length of son Streets, Commissioner Gipson the midway, but grazing would not will officially welcome one and all to be complete without a stop at the the 2020 Mississippi State Fair. The Biscuit Booth. Good, old fashioned fair runs through Sunday, October and free, these fluffy biscuits are 18, with a regular gate admission of baked by the employees of the Mis- $5.00; children under the age of six sissippi Department of Agriculture get in free. For a complete fair guide and Commerce. listing, see pages 12 through 14. New to the fair this year is the “This year we must take extra pre- Timberworks Lumberjack Show. cautions due to COVID-19; the staff Enjoy axe throwing, underhand and at the Mississippi State Fairgrounds chopping, log rolling, cross cut saw- has been working tirelessly to en- ing, hot sawing and chainsaw carv- sure our guests are protected,” said ing! One of the newest attractions Michael Lasseter, Acting Director. is the Ag Expo in the brand-new Some of these precautions include Mississippi Trade Mart. The walk- Mississippi youth compete for top honors showcasing the best in live- hand sanitizer stations throughout through exhibit will teach fairgoers stock and agriculture. Come see the best in market and dairy cattle, goats, sheep and swine shows at the 2020 Mississippi State Fair. Page 2 MISSISSIPPI MARKET BULLETIN October 1, 2020 Commissioner’s Policy Corner MDAC Accepting Wild Hog Control Program Applications By Chris McDonald Traps will be deployed in concentrat- Attention: WHCP, 121 North Jeffer- Director of Federal and ed focal areas across the state. Focal son Street, Jackson, MS 39201. Environmental Affairs - MDAC areas will be determined by MDAC Submitted applications will be through the application process. evaluated based on the number of The Mississippi Department of MDAC will provide the training nec- acres available for trapping, histori- Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC) essary to use the “smart” traps and cal agricultural losses caused by wild will begin accepting applications on technical guidance regarding the hogs on the property, and current September 28 for its Wild Hog Con- most effective methods to trap and trapping efforts on the property. A Andy Gipson trol Program (WHCP). The applica- control wild hogs on private lands. cooperative application is encour- tion period will close on October 12. Applications can be downloaded aged for small acreage (i.e., adjoin- Commissioner Through the WHCP, MDAC will pro- at www.mdac.ms.gov/whcp. Submit ing land managers of small parcels vide “smart” wild hog traps to land- Andy Gipson Mississippi Department of applications by email to: chris@ should work together to submit one owners and managers for the control mdac.ms.gov. Submit applications application). Traps will be available Commissioner Agriculture & Commerce of wild hogs on private agricultural by mail to: Mississippi Department for one-month intervals, dependent 121 North Jefferson Street and forestry lands in Mississippi. of Agriculture and Commerce, upon use and success. One trap per Jackson, MS 39201 1,000 acres is recommended, de- Phone: 601-359-1100 pending on landscape and land use. www.mdac.ms.gov The WHCP is the result of legis- lation passed during the 2020 Leg- Ag Museum islative Session. The legislation au- 601-432-4500 thorized Agriculture and Commerce Agricultural Theft Bureau Commissioner Andy Gipson to oper- 1-800-678-2660 ate programs to fight nuisance wild- life species on private agricultural Aquaculture and forestry lands. In Mississippi 601-359-1102 alone, wild hogs cause more than $60 million in damages annually. Board of Animal Health The WHCP will provide the equip- 601-359-1170 ment and technical guidance needed to control wild hogs across the state. Bureau of Plant Industry The Mississippi Farm Bureau Fed- 662-325-3390 eration provided key support to the Consumer Protection program with the acquisition of ad- 601-359-1148 ditional traps that will be deployed to help control wild hogs on private Fairgrounds/Coliseum lands. 601-961-4000 Visit www.mdac.ms.gov/whcp for program guidelines, applications, Genuine MS and additional information. Submit 601-359-1159 questions regarding WHCP to Chris McDonald at [email protected]. International Trade 601-359-1196 Keep Mississippi Beautiful 601-359-1100 Livestock Market News 601-359-1159 Market Development 601-359-1159 Meat Inspection 601-359-1191 Mississippi Market Bulletin 601-359-1155 Mississippi Farmers Market 601-354-6573 Regulatory Services 601-359-1111 Petroleum Division 601-359-1101 Produce Safety 601-359-1104 Weights & Measures 601-359-1149 October 1, 2020 MISSISSIPPI MARKET BULLETIN Page 3 From Our Kitchen To Yours Home Style Fair Food ************************************************************** Fair-Favorite Corn Dogs 1 cup biscuit/baking mix melted butter and sprinkle with salt. 1 large egg 1 package (8-1/2 ounces) cornbread/muffin mix 1/2 cup 2% milk 2/3 cup all-purpose flour Confectioners’ sugar Funnel Cakes 1 teaspoon ground mustard 1/2 teaspoon onion powder On each of eighteen 4-in. wooden skewers, thread 2 large eggs, room temperature 1/2 teaspoon chili powder one cookie, inserting pointed end of skewer into fill- 1 cup 2% milk 1/2 teaspoon paprika ing. Freeze until firm, about 1 hour. In a deep cast- 1 cup water 1/8 teaspoon ground cumin iron skillet or deep fryer, heat oil to 375°. Place bis- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 large egg cuit mix in a shallow bowl. In another bowl, combine 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup 2% milk egg and milk; whisk into biscuit mix just until moist- 1/4 cup sugar 10 hot dogs ened. Holding skewer, dip cookie into biscuit mixture 3 teaspoons baking powder 10 wooden skewers to coat both sides; shake off excess. Fry cookies, a few 1/4 teaspoon salt Oil for deep-fat frying at a time, until golden brown, 1-2 minutes on each Oil for deep-fat frying side.