Gibb Steele and Krysta Harden at the 2014 USA Rice Government Affairs Conference last February.

CLEVELAND, MS -- Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Krysta Harden was the keynote speaker at the 79th Annual Delta Council meeting on May 29.  Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant said of Harden in his introduction, "She knows the business of USDA and she gets things done."  Harden said she sees her job as advancing the economy through the viability of farming and reminding people every day about the 1 percent who feed the 99 percent.  

Harden discussed 2014 Farm Bill implementation and highlighted the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) as a "shining new conservation program." The previous day Harden had toured Mississippi farms already utilizing innovative conservation practices and said that Mississippi would be central to this new public private partnership approach. She praised the Delta Council for "setting the bar for agricultural organizations by having a clear focus and a strong plan and vision for the future."

Out-going Delta Council President Gibb Steele's busy year of leadership was highlighted in a video demonstrating the breadth of regional issues the Council confronts each year.  Steele serves on the USA Rice Producers' Group board of directors and the USA Rice Federation board of directors and executive committee.

Achievement awards for 2014 were awarded to Mississippi leaders in agriculture including Outstanding Rice Producer Marvin Cochran and Outstanding Conservation Farmer Buddy Allen.

USA Rice Federation President and CEO Betsy Ward attended the meeting and farm tours and was able to thank Deputy Secretary Harden for her hard work on behalf of America's rice farmers.  "I appreciate the chance to attend the Delta Council meeting and see how well Mississippi is represented by rice farmers like Gibb Steele, Marvin Cochran, Buddy Allen and others through its state rice organizations and nationally through USA Rice.   Their participation and leadership play vital roles in USA Rice policies and programs."

Contact:  Michael Klein, (703) 236-1458

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