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It's fair season, and this year, the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce and the Mississippi State Fairgrounds have an abundance of exciting fair festivities planned that the whole family will enjoy! You won't want to miss the upcoming 2022 Mississippi State Fair to be held October 6-16. 


In addition to the annual State Fair, this time of year brings a lot of our favorite traditions, like holiday gatherings, football games and tailgating. However, most importantly, this busy season brings on fall harvesttime for our farmers. Our Mississippi farmers continue to faithfully provide for the rest of our population. During this harvest season, be courteous and use extra caution on the roadways when encountering slow moving, farm vehicles, and thank a farmer today!


This October, MDAC also recognizes Agritourism Month. I encourage everyone to continue to support our agritourism operations, farmers and producers across the state by visiting farms in your area and shopping locally. Find agritourism operations near you today at msagritourism.orgVisit GenuineMS.com to learn where you can find all things grown, raised, crafted and made right here in the Magnolia State. Shop at your local farmers market for all your fresh produce needs; visit msfarmersmarket.com to find a farmers market near you. Don't forget to check out the Mississippi Farm Marketplace to advertise your crops for sale or to find local crops to purchase. 



Andy Gipson

Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce 

Mississippi State Fairgrounds Hosts the 163rd Mississippi State Fair

Ag Commissioner Andy Gipson and the Mississippi State Fairgrounds invites the public to experience new attractions at the 2022 Mississippi State Fair and reminds fairgoers of several items to “Know Before You Go.” The Mississippi State Fair takes place October 6-16 at the Mississippi State Fairgrounds.

 

Fairgoers can continue to expect the best of carnival rides and games, fair food, livestock shows and the Zerbini Family Circus. The Ag Expo featuring the Genuine MS® Store and the MSU Extension Service’s FARMtastic exhibit will be located inside of the Trade Mart. Returning to the Equine Center during the first weekend of the State Fair is the X-Treme Bull Riding Fall Nationals taking place October 8 and the Tri State Rodeo taking place October 9. Tickets to the X-Treme Bull Riding Fall Nationals can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com or the Coliseum Box Office.

 

The newest attraction, the Great American Wild West Show, will take place daily at 5:30 p.m. and 7:15 p.m., with additional performances at 2:00 p.m. during the weekend. The Wild West Show will be located in the Mississippi Frontier Village with the pig races, petting zoo, pony rides, train depot, rattlesnake show and other activities.

 

The Mississippi State Fair Talent Show is making a comeback at the 2022 State Fair. The Talent Show takes place Friday, October 7, and Saturday, October 8, at 6:00 p.m. in the Coliseum. New this year is the 2022 Little Miss Mississippi State Fair beauty pageant taking place Sunday, October 9, at 9:00 a.m.

 

Five nationally recognized artists will perform on the Budweiser Main Stage: Scotty McCreery, David Lee Murphy, B.o.B., Midnight Star and Bobby Rush. Admission to the concerts is free with regular fair admission. Local artists and bands will perform on the Main Stage throughout the duration of the Fair.

 

Commissioner Gipson would like to remind fairgoers of several things to “Know Before You Go.”

 

  • The Mississippi State Fair opens at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 6. The ribbon cutting will be held at Gate 1 at the corner of Jefferson Street and Amite Street.
  • Gate admission is $5.00 per person, and parking is $5.00 per car. Children ages 6 and under will be admitted free of charge. The public can purchase advance admission tickets at the Coliseum Box Office until 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 6.
  • Fair admission is free every weekday from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m., except on Monday, October 10, Columbus Day.
  • Beginning at 9:00 p.m., any guest under the age of eighteen (18) seeking admission to the Fairgrounds must be accompanied by a legal adult (21 or older). Any guest may be asked to show official proof of age to be admitted after 9:00 p.m. Guests are encouraged to bring identification.
  • When entering the Midway, all guests will proceed through one (1) of the seven (7) entry security points utilizing a metal detector, and/or be subject to magnetic wanding.
  • All bags are subject to search. The maximum bag size that will be accepted into the Fair is 12”x12”x6”.
  • No outside food or beverage allowed.
  • No marketing, soliciting, political, or vending items allowed unless and as authorized under Fairground regulations.
  • Pursuant to state law, the legal carry of firearms by all lawful adults is recognized on the Mississippi Fairgrounds.
  • No animals (other than service animals or as authorized by Fair management for Fair activities), banners, fireworks/explosives, or laser pointers allowed.

So bring the family to this year's State Fair and be sure to stop by the famous Biscuit Booth for a homemade, buttermilk biscuit, compliments of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce! 

Learn More

DIVISION SPOTLIGHT


Weights & Measures

Director: Brent Bowman

The Mississippi Legislature passed the Mississippi Weights and Measures Law in 1964, which charged the Commissioner of Agriculture and the Department with the inspection of weighing and measuring devices, as well as the enforcement of stiff penalties for mislabeling products by

quantity or weight.


This was the first move in state history to regulate businesses and products by setting a model standard to ensure equity in the marketplace. Soon after, MDAC established its Weights and Measures Division, fully staffed with trained inspectors, as a regulatory branch dedicated to inspecting and testing scales and measurement equipment used in commerce.


 Today, inspectors with MDAC's Weights and Measures Division constantly travel the state inspecting weight and measuring scales in grocery stores, livestock stockyards, railway stations, trade ports and other areas of commerce. In 2021, inspectors tested over 4,600 active scales; calibrated 33 dairy farm milk tanks; and inspected 816 heavy capacity scales, 4,702 intermediate scales, 58 railway scales and 86 livestock scales. 


For over 60 years, this division has been tasked with the serious responsibility of protecting the health and economic welfare of its citizens. A former MDAC Weights and Measures Director once said,


“If someone steals $50,000 at gunpoint, it is sensational news, but if each of the millions of commercial transactions in the state are off a few pennies, the loss would far exceed $50,000 in a very short time. We in the Weights and Measures division consider our work as one of the fundamental obligations of

the Department of Agriculture and Commerce to

the citizens of Mississippi.”

NOTEWORTHY NEWS

'It Takes a Village:' MDAC's Weights & Measures Division Show Team Effort for MS State Fair

The annual Mississippi State Fair is one of the largest events held in the state. Fairgoers from all over travel to the capital city for the family-friendly affair that includes livestock shows, musical entertainment, exhibits, competitions, carnival rides and all the best fair foods.


This popular and uniquely agricultural event requires the dedication and efforts of not only MDAC's Fairgrounds staff, but also its traditional agency employees. From passing out thousands of homemade, buttermilk biscuits to loading weighted sleds for the Horse & Mule Pulls, and everything in between, the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce works tirelessly as a team to make this incredible event happen. 

One such important task falls to one of MDAC's regulatory divisions. Every year, inspectors with the Weights and Measures Division ensure the scales used during the 4-H and FFA Livestock Shows are accurate and in compliance.


These tests are conducted annually prior to the Fair. This year, this important responsibility was entrusted to MDAC Inspectors Matthew Kelley and Jason Bell, who recently confirmed that the scales on the State Fairgrounds are accurate and ready for weighing during the upcoming 2022 State Fair Livestock Shows. MDAC would like to wish all our 4-H and FFA students around the state good luck at this year's competitions! 

Genuine MS®  is More Accessible Than Ever!

The Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce's Genuine MS® program has made the move to online sales.


Shopping Genuine MS® is a great way to say thank you to your clients and employees, and these one-of-a-kind gift boxes make great presents for friends and family. So shop Genuine MS® this holiday season!

Shop Now!

And be sure to stop by the Genuine MS® Store at the State Fair Ag Expo, where you'll find all things Grown, Raised, Crafted and Made in the Magnolia State! The store, located inside Trade Hall B of the Mississippi Trade Mart, will be open every day during the Mississippi State Fair.

MDAC Regulatory Inspectors Receive USDA GAP/GHP Certification

Two employees with the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce's (MDAC) Bureau of Regulatory Services have recently received their USDA GAP/GHP certification as Licensed Auditors. Brandon Thornton and Tammy Allen of MDAC's Produce Safety Division will now be able to conduct third party food safety audits, known as Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Good Handling Practices (GHP) audits, throughout the state of Mississippi. These voluntary audits verify that fruits and vegetables are produced, packed, handled and stored in the safest manner possible to minimize risks of microbial food safety hazards.


GAP/GHP audits are a service that can provide producer suppliers throughout production and supply chains another layer of credibility in the marketplace. Last year, MDAC's Produce Safety Division conducted 77 USDA GAP/GHP food safety audits and graded 25,751 tons of peanuts brought to buying points in the state. 


Both Thornton and Allen are certified in Farmers Stock Peanut Inspection, GAP, GAP Harmonized and GAP Harmonized Plus. Thornton has served as a supervisor for the Produce Safety Division since its inception in 2018 and has worked at MDAC since 2013; Allen joined MDAC's Produce Safety Division in 2019. 


Congratulations to Brandon Thornton and Tammy Allen!

MDAC Recognizes Agritourism Month

This October, the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce is recognizing Agritourism Month by celebrating our diverse and vast agritourism industry. Agritourism is defined as a business on a working farm, ranch or other agricultural enterprise that offers an educational and fun experience for visitors while generating supplemental income for the owner. Mississippi's rich agricultural heritage is filled with innovation and success, and as a direct result, agritourism has quickly become a vital component to Mississippi's economic development. An estimated 24 million people travel to and around Mississippi each year, and agritourism operations provide a unique experience for visitors. From pumpkin patches and Christmas tree farms to dairy homesteads and u-pick farms, Mississippi is home to over 100 agritourism operations statewide.


Celebrate Agritourism Month by visiting a local ag operation near you this October! Find Mississippi agritourism operations in your area on our website at msagritourism.org/venues.

Learn More

Mississippi Farmers Market Hosts the

Great Mississippi Peanut Boil

The Mississippi Farmers Market, in partnership with the Mississippi Peanut Growers Association, recently hosted the second annual Great Peanut Boil in downtown Jackson! 


In addition to the usual variety of farm fresh foods and handcrafted items, this successful event included complimentary popcorn, children’s activities including face painting and games, vendor giveaways and several hundred pounds of boiled peanuts for market visitors.


The Mississippi Farmers Market, a division of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, is located at 929 High Street in Jackson and is open every Saturday from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.

UPCOMING EVENTS

The 163rd Mississippi State Fair

For more information, daily event schedules and updates, visit

MS State Fair.

Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum to Host Annual Pumpkin Adventure

The Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum, a division of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, invites the public to the annual Pumpkin Adventure on October 5-8, 12-15 and 19-22. The event will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on weekdays with extended hours for 'family days' each Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.


The Museum’s Pumpkin Adventure will include a hayride around the museum grounds and Small Town, Miss.; a delicious, complementary snack of cookies and milk; a self-guided tour of the Heritage Center Gallery; and a pumpkin patch. The General Store will also be open for visitors to shop for souvenirs and enjoy an old-fashioned Coca-Cola in a glass bottle.


Concessions will also be available for purchase on Saturdays throughout this event. Admission price for the annual Pumpkin Adventure is $10.00 per person. Children ages two and under will receive free admission. Groups of 10 or more MUST make a reservation by phone.

Vintage Market Days to Be Held at Mississippi

State Fairgrounds

The Mississippi State Fairgrounds will host the annual Vintage Market Days event on Friday, October 21, through Sunday, October 22, inside the Trade Mart. 


The event will be open from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets can be purchased at the door. Come and shop the Vintage Market Days for all of your favorite vintage looks! 

Mississippi Farmers Market to Host

Halloween Extravaganza

The Mississippi Farmers Market will host a Halloween Extravaganza on Saturday, October 29th. Come to the market dressed up as your favorite character and enjoy a variety of spooky activities, farm fresh foods and handcrafted items. In addition to the usual produce and crafts, shoppers will be treated to complimentary popcorn; children’s activities including face painting, games and trick-or-treating; vendor giveaways; specialty food trucks; and more!


The Mississippi Farmers Market, a division of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, is open every Saturday from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. The Market is located at 929 High Street in downtown Jackson. 





The Mississippi Farmers Market is open Saturdays from 8 a.m.-1 p.m.






The Genuine MS® Store is open

Thursday and Friday 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Saturdays 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

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