Celebrating 40 Years of the Mississippi Ag Museum
This year, the Mississippi Ag Museum celebrates its 40th anniversary on September 9, marking four decades of preserving Mississippi's agricultural heritage and igniting curiosity in the minds and hearts of all who step foot on its grounds.
![MS Ag Museum aerial](https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/MS-Ag-Museum-aerial_2023-08-10-192931_opbx.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=1cc115f9c132760c19e79e05dbc15ede 320w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/MS-Ag-Museum-aerial_2023-08-10-192931_opbx.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=3108f4c6890740edb606159e6ab1d694 540w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/MS-Ag-Museum-aerial_2023-08-10-192931_opbx.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=f5c925aff74e512025bc113b28f7a95e 768w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/MS-Ag-Museum-aerial_2023-08-10-192931_opbx.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=c0e83deb367e89cf2128bf37f344e128 1024w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/MS-Ag-Museum-aerial_2023-08-10-192931_opbx.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=83234fed2cd1a296da12a7f49c3c39e7 1200w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/MS-Ag-Museum-aerial_2023-08-10-192931_opbx.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=b11f94a187423641bf41c76a98eb4200 1440w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/MS-Ag-Museum-aerial_2023-08-10-192931_opbx.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=956308a762a60c83a41ac94cc7b07359 1620w)
In a recent interview with Amie Clark, the museum's educational and interpreter, we delved into its origins and mission to make agricultural history relevant and captivating for all ages.
What special events or activities are planned to commemorate this milestone?
Admission, usually $6, is reduced to just $4, in line with our 'forty' theme on September 9. We'll also have 40 activities, presentations, and demonstrations for all ages and interests, including the Natural Science Museum, the Spinners and Weavers Guild, and other wonderful organizations, from garden clubs to Audubon societies to the Dixieland Old Engine Club. Educational talks in our Sparkman Auditorium and interactive living historians, hailing from here to Wisconsin, in Small Town, will breathe life into history and transport you back in time.
Our cherished regular demonstrations will also continue; witness our sawmill, blacksmiths, wood turners, and print shop in action. It's going to be a day of education, celebration, and exploration.
![Bruce Hartfield, Jim Buck Ross, John R. Block and Hugh Arant cut the ribbon during dedication ceremonies at the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum on Sept. 20, 1983.](https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Mississippi-Ag-Museum-ribbon-cutting-1983.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=9d8e7a66faf1d1ecd6cfaf06d206d51e 320w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Mississippi-Ag-Museum-ribbon-cutting-1983.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=7f03706bb65bd7b30925845930a38ba8 540w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Mississippi-Ag-Museum-ribbon-cutting-1983.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=3c0cc7a31c8a89db7288b2ece8fd2918 768w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Mississippi-Ag-Museum-ribbon-cutting-1983.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=a49a5d959fd7898bebcfa5c5011fdfb9 1024w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Mississippi-Ag-Museum-ribbon-cutting-1983.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=988b989626fc6f769b35c4a77205ee76 1200w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Mississippi-Ag-Museum-ribbon-cutting-1983.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=c1274df153e072fafb21deac6e4aca87 1242w)
How has the Mississippi Ag Museum evolved over the past 40 years. wWat role has it played in showcasing the state's agricultural heritage?
The Mississippi Ag Museum was founded in 1983 by Commissioner Jim Buck Ross, who recognized the need to preserve our state's agricultural heritage. Combining private donations and state funds, the museum became a part of the State Department of Agriculture and started to grow with buildings donated and moved into Small Town, Mississippi, our living history farm and preservation center.
Our narrative spans from Native American agriculture to the road, rail, and water eras, tracing the evolution that opened Mississippi's doors to agriculture and forestry. The mission at our core is to communicate the importance of agriculture and forestry to our community. This extends to the present, where agriculture affects every facet of life, connecting us all on a fundamental level.
![MS Ag Museum wood splitting](https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/MS-Ag-Museum-wood-splitting.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=ec283f068e883a6f1c6d9ce097db0daf 320w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/MS-Ag-Museum-wood-splitting.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=c4f9b7283c6108180684c08d3a8ebb1b 540w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/MS-Ag-Museum-wood-splitting.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=7d61a215a362729be932a2cdd6906bf8 768w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/MS-Ag-Museum-wood-splitting.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=8f0396b521e975b73c7e2323362f45c3 1024w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/MS-Ag-Museum-wood-splitting.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=9cc56d2e7c6ae276961380addb80c893 1200w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/MS-Ag-Museum-wood-splitting.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=56cd13a72d326f9c8a7908deac56092d 1440w)
Looking ahead, how do you envision the Mississippi Ag Museum's future after this milestone anniversary?
From the clothes you wear to the meals you eat, even your house – agriculture shapes it all. Mississippi might face misconceptions on a larger stage, but our expertise in agriculture is undeniable. We're pioneers in this realm, and we aim to bridge the past with the present. By experiencing our museum, families connect, and kids find relevance with lessons that resonate.
We're a living testament to Mississippi's spirit. Moving forward, education remains our guiding star. We want every visitor, from schoolchildren to grandparents, to witness this broader narrative that defines and unites us.