At age 52, Sylvia Clark found herself at
a crossroads as she reflected on her life as a small business owner and
caregiver for her family. Reared on a Webster County farm, Sylvia married
shortly after earning an associate’s degree and settled into her role as the
wife of a Vardaman sweet potato farmer. Eventually, their children were grown
and their parents no longer needed her care. With the support of her family,
Sylvia enrolled at MSU in 2006 to finish her formal education in agriculture
and Extension education.
“My professors were very helpful in
giving me opportunities to build on my experiences as an unofficial
spokesperson for Vardaman sweet potatoes. They helped me find new footing, a new
direction for my life,” Sylvia said. “I’m still an advocate for sweet potatoes
and Vardaman, but so much more.”
While she was a student in 2007, Sylvia was encouraged to participate in an Extension-facilitated program called Annie’s Project.
“I was over the moon in love with the
concept of teaching women in agriculture-related fields problem solving, risk
management, record keeping and decision-making skills,” she said. “The goal of
Annie’s Project is to empower women to feel like full business partners with
their husbands or to succeed in their own right. I could identify with that
goal.”
Today, as the coordinator for Annie’s Project in Mississippi, she is guiding other women and, by extension, families, as they explore opportunities in the agricultural community. Aided by the MSU Extension Service, the organization’s goal is to educate, encourage and support women who are involved in agricultural enterprises.
“We want farm families to think about
their end game. What are they building their business for? If they realize the
work is not for the next generation, they may change how they approach the
business. It can change how they are going to live their life,” Sylvia said.
“It’s important to give the next generation permission to dream their own
dreams and not feel confined to a piece of land.”
After graduation, Sylvia easily transitioned into a full-time Extension job with the multi-state Healthy Homes Initiative, addressing lead paint concerns. Today, her responsibilities include advising the Mississippi Homemaker Volunteers and supporting the 4-H Youth Development Program.
“It’s all intertwined – agriculture,
food, families – like a three-legged stool,” she said. “They are all important
to the vitality of our entire state.”
Sylvia’s first supervisor after
graduation was the MSU Extension family resource management and housing
specialist, Bobbie Shaffett.
“Sylvia taught me so much about the life of farm families as she shared her passion for agriculture,” said Shaffett, now retired. “She not only serves women in her professional work, but she also volunteers in local ministries and statewide organizations, including the Christian Women’s Job Corps and Mississippi Farm Bureau. She is a servant and role model of volunteerism for Women for Agriculture, Master Clothing Volunteers, Mississippi Homemaker Volunteers and 4-H.”
Sherilyn Jones of Inverness is treasurer for the Mississippi Women for Agriculture organization. She said Clark has been instrumental in the establishment and granting of MSU scholarships to women from across the state.
“Part of our mission statement is to educate and promote agriculture among women students,” Jones said. “Sylvia has helped us identify recipients who have benefitted from scholarships provided by the Diane Evans family, Delta Council and the former Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Cindy Hyde-Smith.”
For more information on Women for Agriculture, go to mswomenforag.org.
[…] See more: Sylvia Clark is a Dedicated Farming Advocate […]