By Terry Rector

Local landowners, wildlife enthusiasts and just plain outdoorsy folks need to give a good looksee at the plans for the 2018 annual dinner meeting of the Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District (WCSWCD).  It’s set for Thursday, Aug. 16 at 7 p.m. at the City Auditorium in Vicksburg.  The cost is $30 for two tickets for dinner and includes membership in the WCSWCD. 

Like most any event with a catered meal, an accurate headcount necessitates a signup in advance. So to have one, the deadline to assure your place at the table is Monday, Aug. 13, 4 p.m. 

There are a couple of ways to sign up. Everybody on the district’s mailing list has already received a notice and a registration form. Mail it back with a check but make sure to do it in time for snail mail to get there by the Aug. 13, or go by the office with or without a form; they printed extras. Or call the office at 601-636-0278, extension 3 with any questions about registering. 

There are always things you can count on at this yearly event; food, door prizes galore,  recognition of residents making conservation advances on private property, reports on ongoing conservation projects, and a presentation by an accomplished professional that’s sure to entertain and/or inspire. 

This year’s recognition of county landowners will be for Pasture Land, Wildlife, and Cropland conservation, plus a new one, Small Ruminant Farming.

I’m not going to totally rehash a recent column to explain ruminants other than to repeat they are grazing animals with four digestive compartments. Most mammals have a single, simple stomach. That includes horses, pigs and us. Cows are large domestic ruminants.  Sheep and goats are smaller version ruminants. 

A recent upswing in the number of small farms raising goats led to USDA conservation programs for such farms. 

Updates on conservation programs available and local participation will be presented by Raymond Joyner, District Conservationist for Warren and Yazoo counties and by Kevin Kennedy, Area Conservationist with administration duties for 13 counties.

Wrapping up the evening will be a presentation by Joe Mac Hudspeth, nationally-known freelance wildlife photographer who lives in Brandon.  He is widely recognized, not only for photography skills, but for his master of the most important aspect of wildlife photography; patience. 

I read about him once being an instructor to aspiring wildlife photography students and he more or less told them it’s all about “getting the shot.” 

Joe Mac’s works are published in three books spanning quite a few years’ work. For many years it has been one of his waterfowl “shots” annually depicted on the Mississippi Duck Stamp required for waterfowl hunting.

His contributions to wildlife conservation efforts at the local, state and national levels are many. He has been with us before at this annual meeting and there is no doubt his most recent video and still shot presentation will be a good one.

Go ahead and sign up for the Soil and Water Conservation annual meeting set for Aug. 16. 

Terry Rector is spokesman for the Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District.