Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation
Agricultural News and Information

Greg Gibson, Coordinator
Public Relations / Multimedia
1-800-227-8244 ext. 4154
or 601-977-4154
email: ggibson@msfb.org

Farm Bureau honors Fillingane with Friend of Agriculture Award

Jackson – The Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation presented its Friend of Agriculture Award to Senator Joey Fillingane of Sumrall in Lamar County. Senator Fillingane is the Chairman of the Judiciary A Committee and Vice-Chairman of the Senate Commission on Constitution. He represents District 41.

“Senator Fillingane has worked hard with Farm Bureau to pass legislation on eminent domain reform,” said Farm Bureau President David Waide. “He stayed the course even when he was under enormous pressure from the Governor and other lobby interests.”

“I think it speaks right to the heart of where most Mississippians are – their property rights are something they feel very strongly about,” said Sen. Fillingane. “Farm Bureau was the leading proponent of that legislation and without their support, we wouldn’t have gotten as far as we did.”

In presenting the award, Farm Bureau President David Waide pointed out that as rural representation in the Mississippi Legislature becomes less and less, agriculture must rely on its friends to enact legislation that would support and strengthen agriculture.

Senator Fillingane is an attorney in Lamar County, a member of the Lamar County Chamber of Commerce and a Sunday School teacher at the Oral Baptist Church.

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The Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation is the state's largest general farm organization with more than 209,000 member-families statewide.  There are Farm Bureaus in all 82 counties in Mississippi where agriculture comprises a fundamental part of Mississippi 's economy.  Headquartered in Jackson , the federation is an independent, non-profit agricultural organization and is not associated with any arm of the government.  For more information about Farm Bureau, visit our website at www.msfb.com.