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Mississippi Sweet Potato Council honors Willard

01/05/2024
By: Vanessa Beeson

Scott Willard, dean of Mississippi State University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and director of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station (MAFES), was honored with the Mississippi Sweet Potato Council's Tater Boy Award at the 54th Annual Mississippi Sweet Potato Meeting in January.

The council's most prestigious award is given to an individual who demonstrates exemplary service and support for the state's sweet potato industry.

"Mississippi ranks third in the country in sweet potato production. The Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station (MAFES) conducts meaningful research to improve the quality of outcomes for sweet potato producers across the state and nation. This includes designation as one of six Clean Plant Centers of the National Clean Plant Network for sweet potatoes, which provides virus-tested clean plant material to growers," Willard said.

Willard said MAFES is committed to supporting Mississippi's $92 million sweet potato industry.

"Our sweet potato research at the Pontotoc Ridge-Flatwoods Branch Experiment Station is in close proximity to producers and Vardaman, considered the sweet potato capitol of the world," Willard said. "Our research not only influences Mississippi producers. We are leading a CleanSeed Project, funded by USDA, which includes scientists from Arkansas, California, Hawaii, Louisiana, North Carolina and South Carolina. MAFES is proud to support Mississippi's sweet potato growers through research, teaching and outreach, and I was honored to receive this recognition from the Mississippi Sweet Potato Council."

Mississippi State University is taking care of what matters. Learn more at www.msstate.edu.

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