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Farm Family of the
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I W i IKef^on�,
TIAAF 12325*1sOO p . m . HATF F*�l� A u g . 2 7 AUDIO
Howard Langfitt
VIDEO
CAMERA OH LANGFITT
I WANT TO SAY IN THL VERY BEGINNING THAT I AM DEEPLY GRATIFUL TO WASHINGTON COUNTY AGRICULTURAI AGENT, MR. T.E. BERHY AND ASSOCIATE COUNTY AGENT, MR. G.A. VAHDJSRFQBD, FOR THEIR VERY WONDERFUL HELP IN SELECTING THE FAMILY WHICH WE SALUTE TODAY AND FOR GOING WITH ME TO THEIR PLANTATION TO HELP ME OBTAIN THE STORY WHICH I AM NOW GOING TO TELL. THIS IS THE STQSY OF MR. AND MRS. JEFF
SLIDE
FARM-1 FAMILY
P. WILKERSON AND THEIR TWO DAUGHTERS, HELEN AND PRINCELLA, WHO LIVE ON AW OWN CLIFTON PLANTATIO! SIX MILES NORTH OF GREENVILLE AT WINTERVILLE, MISSISSIPPI. JEFF WILKERSON OWNS 7^0 ACRL.S ,.ND
LEASES ANOTHER ij.00. HE WAS BORN AND RAISED ON THIS LAND WHICH HIS GREAT GRANDFATHER BOUGHT BEFORE THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES. JEFF ATTENDED
SCHOOL AT GREENVILLE AND IS A GRADUATE FROM MISS. STATE, IN AGRICULTURE IN 1939. MRS. WILKERSON RAISED IN WEST POINT AND ATTENDED M.S.C.W.. SHE AND JEFF MET WHEN SHE GAME TO GREENVILLE T0 TEACH HOME ECONOMICS. THEY WERE MARRIED DECEMBER
26, 1941. MRS. WILKERSON FINISHED TEACHING THAT SLIDE FARM-2 HOUSE AND QUIT. JEFF WILKERSON BROUGHT HIS BRIDE THEY MOVED INTO THIS SAME
mix
TO CLIFTON PLANTATION.
, THOUGH I T HAS BEEN ADDED TOO AND
^140DELED SO MUCH YOU'D NEVER KNO* IT WAS THK
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SAME ONE.
JEFF WAS ALREADY FARMING AT THE TIME IN 191*2 HE WENT INTO THE
THEY WERE MARRIED,
S E R V I C E OP HIS COUNTRY AND H I S FATHER FARMED C L I F T O N PLANTATION FOR HIM AND MRS, WILKERSGH WENT BACK TO M . S . C . W . WHERE SHE TAUGHT FOR A YEA] AND A HALF, SLIDE FAR&. WHEN J E F F CAME OUT OF THE AIR FORGE
I N 1 9 ^ 5 THEY CAME BACK TO CLIFTON PLANTATION AND MRS. WILKERSON SAYS JEFF DOESN'T EVEN LIKE TO
IKAVE
TO GO TO GREENVILLE.
AT ONE TIME THERM
WAS
SLIDE FARM-lj. COfTON
30-35 FAMILIES ON CLIFTON PLANTATION AND THE:
TODAY THE]
PRINCIPLE CROPS WERE CORN AND COTTON.
HAVE FOUR FAMILIES AND WORK THE SAMH LAND THEY USED TO WORK WITH 30. THEIR CROPS TODAY ARE COTTON, SOYBEANS, OATST WHEAT, PECANS AND THEY ALSO RAISE FINE HEREFORD CATTLE, I S A COMPLETELY MECHANIZED FARMER. JEFF WILKERSON THOUGH HIS
COTTON ACREAGE HAS BEEN DRASTICALLY REDUCED IN
SLIPS
�RMS
COTTON
REGENT YEARS HE STILL HAS 2.1$ ACRES IN COTTON THIS YEAR ON THE CHOICE "A" PROGRAM. HE IS A
PART OWNER IN THIS ONE VARIETY GIN. THEY ALL PLANT D & P.L. 15. THE BULK OF THE; SEED JEFF PLANTS IS SECOND YEAR SE.HD EXCEPT FOR 30 ACRES OF BREEDER SEED FOR HIS NEXT YEAR*S PLANTING SEED. HE HANDLES MOST OF THE CROP WITH MACHINERY AND ONLY HIRES A FEW HOE HANDS AND SOMK PICKER HANDS. HE USES LIQUID FERTILIZER AND PLANS TO
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USE ALL CHEMICALS ON WEED GONTROL NEXT YEAR. JEFF CARRIES OUT A COMPLETE INSECT GONTROL
SLIPS. PABM-6
GOVTOY
PROGRAM ON HIS OOTTON AND POISONS AT $ DAY INTERVALS, HIS AVERAGE PRODUCTION I S ONE OF
THE HIGHEST IN THE COUNTY AT ? j 0 LBS OP LINT 2. � R ACRE,,..THAT IS A TEN YEAR AVERAGE. HE SHOWS E COUNTY AGENT* TOM BERRY THAT THIS YEAR'S CHOP IS NO EXCEPTION. HE PICKS MOST OF HIS COTTON MECAHNIGALLY. JEFF SAYS AIRJAL APPLICATION OF
INSECTICIDES GOT TOO EXPENSIVE SO HE BOUGHT A HIGHBOY AND NOW WORKS ALL HIS GOTTON SATISFACTOSLIDE FARM-! RILY WITH IT. JEFF WILKERSQN ALSO HAS 325 ACRES JEFF REALLY
IN SOYBEANS OF THE LEE VARIETY.
DIVERSIFIED HIS FARM OPERATION IN 19W> AND HAS BEEN RAISING MANS EVER SINCE. HIS AVERAGE
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FARM-S SOXBBAHS"
YIELD IS 30 BUSHYLS AND BETTER THIS YEAR.
HE
HAS A GOOD MARKET FOR T HEM AND SELLS THEM OUT OF THE FIELD. HE ALSO RAISES OATS AND WHEAT . HIS OATS AVERAGE 80 BUSHELS AND THE WHEAT kl BUSHELS* HE HAS 100 to 300 ACRES IN CATS, STORES THEM ON THE PLACE AND SELLS WHEN THE MARKET IS RIGHT. At CNE TIME HE HAD 200 ACRES uF WHEAT BUT ALLOTMENTS
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FARH-9 MACHINERY
HAVE CUT HIM TO
30 ACRES. JEFF COMBINES HIS
OWN OATS AND WHEAT BUT GETS HELP COMBINING BEANS BECAUSE HE IS BUSY WITH COTTON AT THE SAME TIME. JEFF HAS XO TRACTORS, TWO GOTTON PICKERS, A
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COMBINE, HAY BALER, HIGHBOY AND MOST EVERYTHING E L S E HE NEEDS. HE KEEPS H I S VALUABLE MACHINERY
SHELTER TO PROTECT I T AND PROLONG I T S LIFE. I T WAS BUILT I N 1 9 5 3 - 5 4 AND INCLUDES
STORAGE P A C I L I T E S FOR 2 5 , 0 0 0 BUSHELS OF OATS AND ALSO DRYING F A C I L I T I E S TOO, I N 1 9 4 6 WHEN J I F F
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PARH-40
WILKERSON STARTED DIVERSIFYING H I S PROGRAM HS ADDED CATTLE AND BEGAN TO BUILD H I S HERD OF TOP H E R E F O R D S . A SHORT TIME AGOK HE HAD 3 0 0 HEAD OF CATTLE BUT HAS GUT BACK TO l � 0 HEAD,.#
1 0 0 BROOD COWS AND � 0 C A L V E S . . . . H E I F E R S WHICH HE WILL CARRY OVER AND ADD TO T t t . HERD* J E F F PLANS TO RE-BUILD THE HERD. ACTUALLY
HE ONLY CUT
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PARM-U
DOWN, AS HE DOES PERIODICALLY TO MINIMIZE] THE DANGER OF ANAPLASMOSIS, HE CULLS HIS HERD CLOSE HE HE
W I L L BUILD BACK NOW TO 1 5 0 BROOD COWS. CULLS OUT THE OLD COWS EVERY OTHER YEAR.
FOLLOWS A COMMERCIAL COW AND CALF PROGRAM AND S E L L S THE CALVES MILK-FAT OFF THE COW AT 3 5 0 - 4 5 0
SLIDE
FARM-lg CATTLE
POUNDS.
HE CALFHOOD VACCINATES THE HEIFERS FOR
BANGS AND CVACCINATES ALL OF THEM FOR EVERYTHING 2LSE. HE SPRAYS THEM ONCE A WEEK FOR FLY CONTROL J E F F USES S I X SIRES
ND U T I L I Z E S SOME BACKRUBS TOO.
G I S T L R E D BULLS I N H I S BREEDING PROGRAM, .Uffi HiBRNED HEREFCRDS AND THREE POLLED. SLIDE PARM-13
BECAUSE
H I S PASTURE LAND I S WIDELY SEPBRATED J E F F USES
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THIS PROTABLE LOADING GHUTE WHICH IS EASILY MOVED ABOUT. HE HAS THREE PASTIME AREAS,,,ONE AT CLIFTON PLANTATION..,,ONB LEVY PASTURE AM)
SLIDE PASTURE
ONE ARKA IN BOLIVAR COUHTY. HSI LONG RANGE PLAN IS TO ADD 200-300 ACRES EACH YEAR AS HE CAW GET
IT AND USE IT FOR CATTLE AMP USE HIS GOOD M l � AT WINTERVILEE FCfi COTTON, ASSOCIATE GOUNTY AGENT G.A. VANDERFORD WORKS VERY CLOSELY kITH JEFF IN HIS LIVESTOCK AND PASTURE PROGRAM AND COUNTY AGENT TOM BERRY WORKS CLOSE WITH HIM ON THE ROW CROP PROGRAM. JEFF CARRIES HSI CATTLE
ON GRASS AND HAY IN THE WINTER TIME AMD TURNS THEM INTO THE COTTON FIELDS AFTER PICKING. A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF HIS LIVESTOCK PROGRAM IS UTILIZATION OF THE CROP RESIDUE. HE HAS 222 SLIDE FARM-! LKV1T PASTURE ACRES OF FERMANET PASTURE PLUS 100 AGRES OP LEVY PASTURE. IN THE SPRING HSE HAS WILD WINTER PEAS
AND WHITE DUTCH...FROM NOW THROUGH THL WINER HE WILL USE FESCUE, DALLIS, BERMUDA AND LESPEDE2A. JEFF IS A FIRM BELIEVER IN ALWAYS HAVING LOTS MORE GRASS THAN HIS CATTLE WANT AND IN THIS WAY SLIDE FARM-16 PASTURE HE GETS RANK GROWTH DURING THK SUMMER AND THEN WITH THE ADDITION OF SALT AND MEAL IN THE WINTER THEY EAT ALL THAT DEAD GRASS THAT'S LEFT OVER. HE GRABES OATS AND THOUGH HE SELES THE SEED HE FIGURES THAT HIS BIGGEST PROFIT OFF OATS IS IN
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HE MEAT THEY PUT ON HIS CATTLE, FOR HAY JEFF ILKERSON PUTS UP ABOUT 8*000 BALES OP LESPEDEZA M) BERMUDA GRASS, HE OUTS THE LEVY AND THE EXCESS PASTURE GRASSES, HE EITHER FEEDS ALL HIS BAY OR CARRIES IT OVER TO THE NEXT WINTER, HAS USED CHEMICAL WEED CONTROL OH HIS PASTURE HE PAST TWO YEARS.
SLIDE MAN IN OFFICE
HE
JEFF HAS A SOIL MAP ON
LIFTON PLANTATION AND PUTS ALL GROUND IN THE iROP BEST SUITED FOR IT. HIS IAND IS FENCED AND BOSS FENCED. HE HAS CLEARED 80 ACRES FOR PASTUB
kWD HAS PUT IF V DITCHES AMD DRAINAGE CANALS WHEE REEDED. JEFF PUTS A WINTER GOVER CROP ON HIS
CROP LAND AMD ROTATES 100 ACRES EACH YEAR WILD WINTER PEAS TO COTTON. BEHIND OATS. HE PLANTS BEANS
JEFF KEEPS COMPLETE RECORDS ON
3VERY PHASE OF HIS FARM OPERATION IN HIS OFFICE
JOCATED
BEHIND THE CARPORT. FROM THE GARDOT
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PARM-18
FHJS.
3PACE MAINTAINED ON THE PLACE, MRS. WILKERSON AND DAUGHTER HELEN EACH YEAR FREEZE ABOUT 1,800 POUNI ! 3F FOOD BESIDES THE MANY JARS WHICH THEY PUT UP THE FAMILY'S NEEDS. .. .SUCH THINGS AS TOMATOES ND SOUP MIXTURES, PICKLES, AND JAMS AND JELLIES* ...THINGS THAT DON'T LEND THEMSELVES WELL TO
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m
! FEEZING.
THOUGH MRS. WILKERSON I S A GOOD COOK,
IN; WELL SHE MIGHTs BE BEING A TEACHER OP HOME CONOMIGS, DAUGHTER HELEN LOVES TO COOK AND IS
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A GOOD ONE, THAT WORKS IN BEAUTIF LLY SINCE MRS, WILKERSON IS VERY BUSY AGAIN AS A TEACHER OP HOME ECONOMICS IN GREENVILLE HIGH SCHOOL, THE SLIDE FARM-SI 20
HOfffi & GIHLS
WILKERSON H0H8 IS A DRSAM,
IT MAS DESIGNED AND
PLANKED INSIDE AND OUT A!� THL BUILDING SUPERVISI BY MRS. WILKERSON. SHE DID ALL THE INTERIOR MRS.
DECORATING AND BELIEFE ME IT'S LOVELY, SLIDE FARM-SB 21 HOOKED RUG WILKERSON ESPECIALLY LOVES TO SEW.
SHE HAS A
SEWING ROOM AMD A VERY HANDY BUILT IN SEWING CABINET TO HOLD HER SUPPLIES, SHE ALSO LOVES TO HOOK RUGS. THIS IS ONE SHE IS WORKING OH Af
THE PRESENT TIME. THIS, MX FBBENDS, IS A VERY TALENTED YOUNG LADY. SLIDE FARM-3B& PATIO SHE ALSO LIKES FLOWERS AND
ARRANGES FLOWERS BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE HER . THIS IS THE BUCK OP THE HOUSE AHD THE PATIO WHERE THE FAMILY EMJOYS LATE SUMMER EVENING THIS IS A FAMILY THAT WORKS HARD TOGETHER AND PLAYS HARD TOGETHER. I H Y UTILIZE THEIR HOME 'B
TO THE FULLEST AND IT HAS BEEN SO CONSTRUCTED AS TO PERMIT ITS SHARING WITH OTHERS. JEFF SLIDE TABLE
23
WILKERSON MAITAINS A COMPLETE FARM WORKSHOP AND IN IT HE NOT ONLY KESPS HIS FARM MACHINERY IN TOP REPAIR BUT ALSO ENJOYS MAKING THINGS FOR THE FAMILY'S'ADDED JOY. THIS TABEE IS A TYPICAL EXAMPLE. RIM. THE TABLE PERIMETER IS A WAffiQN WHEEL
IN THE CENTER TOP IS A LAZY SUSAN MADE
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WITH A PLAINER WHEEL.
NEXT TO IT IS A ROUND AM)
T A K E ALSO MADE WITH A PLANTER WHEEL TOP*
THx.SE ARE ONLY QUICK EXAMPLES OP A TREMENDOUS IMAGINATION AND INGENUITY BELONGING SO JEFF
SLIDE , PAg�-3Ea 2k '.HfORSE
WILKKiSON, THE WHOLE FAMILY LOVES TO RIDE. THIS IS 11 JhM FAVORITE MOUNT. OLD MISS PRINGELLA A2CD HER , I FOUND THIS YOUNG LADY HAS
M A W LOVES, RIDING IS ONLY ONE OP THEM, SHE ALSO LOVES WATER. SHE'S A i . H CLUB MEMBER AMD f-
PfibYS IN THE JUNIOR HIGH BAND AHD IS A I4EMEER OP THE DIRT BOBBERS GARDEN CLUB* I AM SUliE YOU HAVJ
SLIDE FAMILX
HEARD IT SAID THAT A FAMILY THAT PLAYS TOGETHER AHD PRAYS TOGETHER, STAYS TOGETHER. THAT IS A
STATEMENT WHICH WHOLLY EXEMPLIFIES THIS VERY PINE FAMILY. THEY PLAY TQG^SHER IN SO MANY WAYS* THIS COTTAGE LOCATED ON LAKE FERGUSON IS ONE OF THEIR FAVORITE RETREATS. IT'S ONLY A FEW
MINUTES DRIVE FROM HOME AMD YET AN ALMOST EHTIREI
SLIDE
FARM.
LANDING & BOAT
DIFFERENT WORLD. THEY ALL LOVE TO BOAT AND FISH AND ENGAGE IN WATER SPORTS. AT THE PIER ARE TWO BOATS, ONE OWNED BY THEIR PARTNER IN THE COT-MOE, MR, PARK, AND THE OTHER, THE FLAT BOTTOMED SEMIp
SLIDE
HOUSE BOAT OWNED AND BUILT BY JEFF.
IT IS ;SQ
COl^STRUCTEii xHAT POLES CAN BE PLACED FOR TROLLING
JEFF PILOTS IT FROM A VERY COMFORTABLE SEAT AS (HE KEEPS HIS HANDS FREE FOR FISHING ACTION AHD
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HANDLES THE RUDDER WITH A FOOT BAR.
SLIDE FARM-*
HELEN LOVES
TO WATER SKI AND IS VERY GOOD.
PRINCELLA PREFER!
tan
THE FLYING SAUCER AS SHE HAS NOT YET MASTERED THE SI.IIS. THE WHOLE FAMILY TOOK TIME OUT LAST SATURDAY AFTERNOON TO fAKE ME FOR A RIDE UP AND DOWN LAKE FERGUSON SO I MIGHT SEE IT�S BEAUTY.P.MD ELMOST UNBELIEVABLE DEVELOPMENT, IN FACT,
EODE ALL THE fttX DOWN TO GREEHVILLE, ALMOST IX MILES, AND BACK. SLIDE FISH PRY 29 OUR RETURN. THIS IS WHAT AWAITED US ON
THE HOUSE BOY WAS BUSY FRYING BASS
J� STRIPES IH A DELP FAT FRYER....ALL OF THEM TSH CAUGHT BY THE FAMILY IN LAKE FERGUSON. F ONE EVER WAS MADE TO ENJOY AN OUTING MORE THAI O : ENJOYED THIS. THE WHOLE FAMILY LOVED TO DO
SLIDE "
PABS�30 FAMILY
I KNOW FROM THEIR ENTHUSIASM FOR IT AND I CONFIDENT- THEY DO IT OFTEN... .AND DO IT ALL DGCffiTHER AS A FAMILY. YES, THEY ARE CERTAINLY A 'AMILY THAT PLAYS TOGETHER.. .AND THEY PRAY (TOGETHER. THEY ARE MSMBERS OF THE FIRST RESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GREENVILLE WHERE JEFF HAS SERVED AS A DEACON FOR SIX YEARS AND MRS. /ILKERSOK AND 16 YEAR OLD HELEN TEACH IN THE 5UMDAY SCHOOL PRIMARY DEPARTMENT. THEY ARK ALSO
CAMERA ON FAMILY
i FAMILY THAT' BELIEVES IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND EELPS IN EVKRY WAY POSSIBLE TO MAKE IT A BETTER OMMUNITY IN WHICH TO LIVE. THEY BELONG TO THE
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FARM BUREAU AND THE DELTA COUNCIL.
JEFF IS A
PAST PRESIDENT OF THE WASHINGTON COUNTY KISSI5SX STATE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ASSO IATIQN A1ID A PAST CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNTY A.S.C. COMMITTEE. HEI IS PRESENTLY SERVING ON THE COUNTY F.H.A. COMMITTEE, IS A MEMBER OF THE COUNTY SGHOQL BOARD AMD THE 1CTSSISSIPPI CATTLEMEN'S ASSOCIATION AND IS A RQTARIAN. MRS, WILKERSON IS A MEMBER OF THEP.TJ MEMBER OF THL GREENVILLE JUNIOR GARDEN CLUB AND IT'S PAST PRESIDENT A!� IS A MEMBER OF THE GREENVILLE JUNIOR AUXILLIARY. HELEN AT'JEHDED GIRLS STATE THIS SUMELR AHD WAS ELECTED STATE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. SHE IS TREASURER
OF �SHE SENIOR CLASS, FEATURE EDITOR OF THE 3CH00I PAPER AND A MEMBER OF QUILL AND SCROLL. TO READ AW SHE LIKE
WRITE. SHE ALSO BELONGS TO THE ORUBfl
THUMB GARDEN CLUB, I COULD TELL YOU SO MUCH MORE ABOUT THIS WONDERFUL FAMILY IF TIME PERMITTED, BUT I MUST LET YOU AT LEAST MEET THEM FOR A MINUTE BEFOliE WE HAVE TO LEAVE YOU, SO HERE THEY ARE,
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