On Monday, April 8, 2019, a check in the amount of $25,000 was presented to the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum Foundation by the Mississippi Forestry Association (MFA) to enhance visitors’ experience when exploring forestry-related exhibits in the museum. MFA is the only non-profit organization in Mississippi with the sole purpose of sustaining Mississippi’s forests, and the organization is investing a portion of its efforts into the museum to educate others about forestry in Mississippi and its pivotal impact on society. With the donation, the museum plans to redesign and renovate the forestry conservation and fire management exhibits in the main gallery of the Heritage Center.
Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson is grateful for the donation to the Museum Foundation and recognizes the advantages that come along with it. “We appreciate the continued support of the Mississippi Forestry Association,” he remarks. “This generous donation to the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum Foundation will allow the Ag Museum to continue its efforts to preserve the history of Mississippi and tell the story of how the agriculture and forestry industries have shaped the state’s economy throughout the years.”
The Mississippi Forestry Association understands how the organization’s charitable activities impact future generations. “MFA has a long history of supporting the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum. Most recently, in 2016, we funded the refurbishing of the sawmill and the building of an observation deck,” states the Mississippi Forestry Association Executive Vice President Tedrick Ratcliff. “We are proud to continue this work by donating $25,000 to the museum foundation to allow museum staff to make updates to the forestry exhibits inside the Heritage Center and to provide an additional saw blade for the sawmill. We look forward to teaching future generations about the importance of forestry in Mississippi through these exhibits.”
 The Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum is a division of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce. It is located at 1150 Lakeland Drive in Jackson and is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information about the museum, call 601-432-4500 or 1-800-844-8687, visit www.msagmuseum.org, or “like” the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum on Facebook.
Courtney Ingle
