Frank Taylor
Project Director
Phone:
662-803-3271
Email:
Address:
2948 Highpoint Weir Rd
Louisville, Ms 39339
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"Save Rural America"
About Mr. Taylor
"Mr. Frank Taylor is a fifth generation tree farmer with 187 acres of pine and hardwood trees based in Louisville, MS. The property where his farm is located has been in his family since 1877. Mr. Taylor’s great great grandparents fought through Jim Crow laws to be able to continue the rich legacy of the land. Mr. Taylor attended Kentucky State University on a football scholarship and graduated in 1980 with a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice.
For over 30 years, Mr. Taylor has been a strong advocate for landowners and farmers deeming him the “Voice of Rural America”. In 1997, Mr. Taylor became the President of the Winston County Self-Help Cooperative (WCSHC) based in Louisville, Mississippi. Its primary objective is to assist landowners to maintain their land/farmland for future generations. WCSHC has four focus areas: finance, health, housing and a youth component."- Alcorn State University
Work Experience
1985-1992
1997
Winston County Self Help Cooperative created a formidable team of farmers and landowners. WCSHC’s membership consisted of 12 members from Winston, Choctaw and Oktibbeha Counties and convened on first Thursday at East Central Federal Union Building on highway 397. WCSHC members received animals through Heifers International to enhance and improve cattle genetics…pigs to start swine operations. Additionally, WCSHC received funds through Self-Development of People (a ministry Of the Presbyterian Church USA) to erect a feed grinding meal. Columbus McReynolds engineered a launching pad for small farmers and landowners in a mist of uncertainties, therefore, WCSHC membership appreciates Columbus’ efforts and time to help save small family farms”.
Frank Taylor, as president and Gus Townes mentor. WCSHC’s membership had dwindled to four members; however, Omerio & Dee Dotson, Mary Hannah and Bobby Hardin’s founding members’ commitment to rejuvenate WCSHC’s mission of assisting small farmers and landowners came to fruition. WCSHC’s membership adopted a mantra of “Helping Saving Rural America” to empower members with inspiration and motivation to become better stewards of their natural resources. Members focused their energies on accessing services from USDA and non-profit organizations to stimulate growth in farm incomes and strengthen family relationships. Mary Hannah founding members stated, “We needed an innovative strategy of attracting energetic members and incite thought provoking ideals to broaden WCSHC’s community image. We formulated a four-point plan of action…finance, health, housing, and youth.
2010-2023 an more to come ...
Winston County Self Help Cooperative launched its Beginning Farmers/Rancher Development Program onSeptember 1, 2010. Our targeted audience consisted of seventy five (75) small farmers/ranchers located in East Mississippi and Western Alabama.During three (3) years of the project, WCSHC was able to increase its program participants to approximately one hundred and five (105) small farmers/ranchers. WCSHC Outreach Training Staff partnered with Land Grant Institutions, USDA Offices and other local and state organizations to identify, educate and provide technical and managerial training to small farmers/ranchers in targeted areas. Training included workshops, field days, educational classes and one-on-one farm visits. Training consisted of livestock and crop production, forestry and land management, financial and farm business management, credit counseling, estate plans, record-keeping, year-end analysis and whole farm planning. Over one hundred and five (105) small farmers/ranchers participated in these training sessions. Fifteen (15) training and educational workshops were conducted during 2013 which includes forestry production, hoop house production training, crop and livestock production, marketing of alternative crops, credit counseling, estate planning, whole farm planning, food safety, canning and preserving. Approximately two hundred and fifty seven (257) small farmers/ranchers were in attendance. Sixteen (16) USDA Programs Awareness Workshops were conducted. These workshops informed small farmers/ranchers of USDA Programs availability as well as other programs offered on the federal, state and county levels. Our program staff worked closely with Natural Resource Conservation Service, Farm Service Agency, Rural Development, Land grant University Rsquo;s and other partners to conduct these informational workshops. Natural Resource Conservation Service discussed financial assistance, livestock management, small ruminants and Specialty Crop Initiatives. Farm Service Agency discussed the new Micro-Loan Program and other lending resources. Rural Development discussed their housing loans and grants. The majority of these workshops were held on small farmers/ranchers farms. Approximately two hundred and twenty four (224) small farmers/ranchers and public citizens were in attendance. There were several methods that the WCSHC used to promote USDA and others programs. The most effective were conferences, rallies, quarterly newsletters, brochures, promotional flyers, weekly radio talk shows and WCSHC website.