How MS Farmers Are Helping Others Succeed

Phelps Family Farm of Hermanville and two other area farms have served as the sites of workshops organized by Orlando Phelps, Clifton E. Peters and James Bunch, retired United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) employees, to help small limited-resource farmers succeed with their operations.

“We enjoyed working with the USDA, and this was our opportunity to give something back,” Orlando says.  “We wrote a project grant through the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to help us put together some Small Farm Outdoor Demonstration Workshops, where we have  exposed farmers to different programs and explained the importance  of building relationships with agencies that can help them with their farming operation. Alcorn State University has been out here to help with these workshops. The current project focus is on Adams, Warren, Claiborne, Copiah, Jefferson and Wilkinson counties. 

“Our goal is to follow the Five Pillars of Outreach, by making famers aware of USDA programs and services; educating them about the programs and services; helping farmers access programs and services; and following up to ensure programs they have received work for them.  We  want to change any negative perceptions farmers might have about USDA and let them know that USDA is there to help them.”

The workshops, which are free to interested limited resource farmers, cover such topics as Forage and Livestock Management, Timber Management, USDA Programs and Services, Leasing Land for Multiple Recreational Uses, Farm Security and Feral Hog Management.

The Small Farm Outdoor Demonstration Workshops are sponsored by Restoring Faith, in association with the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service.  For more information, visit the website at restoringfaith.org.

Some History About the Program

Phelps Family Farm has been in Orlando’s family since his great-grandfather, Sharper Phelps, purchased 107 acres of land in 1926 and began growing row crops.  At one point, Orlando’s mother and aunt, Dora Phelps and Bernice Phelps-Dobbins, managed the farm with their mother, Ella, after their father, Lemon, passed away in 1962. Their brother, who is now deceased, and two other sons helped.

Dora is a retired certified nursing assistant (CNA) with a Veteran’s Administration hospital in Chicago, and Bernice is a retired math teacher in the local school system. 

“Mom and I carried on the farm for a number of years after my father died. When mama passed away in 2002, Dora and I took over full time, with help from two of her sons.  She had come home after retirement to help me care for our mother, and by then, we were both retired,” Bernice says. 

“We had cows, but we didn’t have a large herd. We had different types of cattle but ended up with Black Angus,” she says. “We took care of the day-to-day tasks of running a farm, and we managed our timber.” 

In their 80s now, Bernice and Dora are happy that Orlando is now actively managing the operation.

The Farm Today

The Phelps farm is presently a cow/calf operation with 95 head of Black Angus cattle. It also grows grass and timber. Orlando uses several types of conservation practices that help him farm more efficiently. The fencing has been improved, and the cows  are moved from grazing areas with ponds to other areas that have watering facilities closer to where they graze. The farm uses rotational grazing and cross fencing. The farm also uses stabilization structures that help prevent erosion in areas that are prone to erosion, such as gullies.

“You have to farm efficiently, but you also have to be able to grow grass to have cattle,” Orlando adds.  “We do Bahia grass and Bermuda grass for summer, and ryegrass, as well as ryegrass and wheat together, for the winter. Sometimes, we grow clover. We feed grain during the winter as a supplement, especially when we ween calves from their mothers. We also put out minerals.

“I love to farm,” he says.  “It’s a good way to make a living when you take the time to do it right.”

As for the future of Phelps Family Farm, Orlando, who has four daughters, says he has a grandson who likes to come out to the farm.

“He enjoys watching the cows,” Orlando says. “I am hoping he will take over one day.  Ever since he was a baby, he has liked cows.  So, we will see.”