Mississippi State University’s Frank and Virginia Williams Collection of Lincolniana is highlighting six newly donated artifacts from the Williamses during the special Feb. 12 program “Williams Collection: Treasures From the Vault.”

Best-selling author Angie Thomas surprised high school senior Stephanie Hartmann with the news that she has received a full-ride scholarship to Belhaven University.

PASCAGOULA—There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home. That’s right, and Pascagoula has welcomed home Olivia Randle to fill the vacated seat of Main Street Director for its city.

Mississippi is not a state that announces itself. It reveals its story slowly, to those willing to pay attention

The number and variety of restaurants along the Mississippi Gulf Coast is impressive. From fine dining to Greek, Vietnamese, and Korean cuisine—along with classic po-boy shops—there is truly something for every taste. Among these standouts is The Greenhouse Biloxi, located on Ohr Street just off Howard Avenue.

For many, wetlands are nice to look at but are otherwise mysterious places. Few people dare to tread through the water, mud, and muck that defines them. Staying on dry land is preferable, but without these wet elements of our landscape, our world would not benefit from the numerous functions and values that wetlands provide. Wetlands are a gift to most wildlife and certainly to humans, if only we paid attention.

A dynamic lineup of iconic and acclaimed artists will take the stage as Mississippi State’s Riley Center for Education and…

The Cleveland Farm Toy Show is an annual event in Cleveland, Mississippi, that brings together collectors and enthusiasts to buy, sell, and trade vintage and modern farm toys, including tractors, trucks, and RC models. It features vendors, displays, and handmade items at the Bolivar County Expo Center. It’s a family-friendly event where people can relive memories and see detailed farm scenes, with proceeds supporting local initiatives like FFA (Future Farmers of America) and offering a fun experience.

In its thirteenth season, The Cleveland Farm Toy Show got its start in Clarksdale, Mississippi, which was inspired by a show in Memphis, Tennessee.  

“This is a hobby I’ve had for a long time,” shared Blake Andrews, owner and director of the Cleveland Farm Toy Show. “I did it with my parents and my grandparents. And when the previous show promoter decided it was time to hang it up, I came along and decided I wanted to do it.”

Many children, especially in agricultural communities like those in the Mississippi Delta, grow up “carpet farming,” a beloved imaginative play activity where children use toy farm equipment, often on a carpet or rug, to mimic real-life farming operations.  The nostalgia is one reason people of all ages will drive from all over to attend, hoping to find a piece left out of their collection or take home something timeless for the children in their lives.

“People from Mississippi to Arkansas, Louisiana, even from Texas and farther away,” shared Andrews.

Collectors and children aren’t the only fans of Farm Toys. Some who grew up “carpet farming” go on to create works of art, creating highly detailed, often custom-built miniature displays of rural dioramas designed to replicate real-life farming operations, which are then judged at specialized shows.  Competition often focuses on creativity, accuracy, and scale, frequently at events like the National Farm Toy Show in Dyersville, Iowa.

“I always grew up carpet farming with out-of-the-box toys from John Deere,” shared Ethan Hildabrand. “My dad and I were looking at the Delta Farm press one night, saw Blake’s Farm Toy Show, and asked to go. I started getting into custom models, and finally, I built my first display.”

Participants who compete with their farm displays rarely use toys directly off the shelf. Instead, they “tweak” toys or hand-build them to create unique, realistic models. Displays are often built in specific scales to provide a realistic replica. Competitors get creative with materials to mimic real farm elements.  Winning displays often feature specific, complex agricultural tasks, such as lagoon pumping, harvesting, or robotic feeding systems.

“Whenever I set out to build a display, I like to ride around my farming community between Bentonia and Satarsha, Mississippi, and look at stuff,” shared Hildabrand. “When I get inspired, I’ll take a picture of it, and have that laid out on my table when I display, and provide a story about how it relates to me in real life.”

You don’t have to be a farmer to enjoy these events or dabble in display competitions. It is a fun opportunity for any agricultural enthusiast.

Mississippians have long memories when it comes to weather. We remember hurricanes by name, floods by river height, and winter storms by the silence that follows when the power goes out and the world turns glassy and still. That’s why this week’s forecast has many North Mississippi families thinking back to February 1994.

The community is invited to experience the extraordinary musical talent of The University of Southern Mississippi’s School of Music during two special concert evenings this February. In celebration of the school’s ongoing excellence and as part of the National Association of Schools of Music accreditation site visit, both concerts are free and open to the public.

MOSS POINT—In marketing, a product has hit big when the brand name is used for all brands and varieties of a product.  For instance, the word “Kleenex” is used to refer to any tissue in a box or package meant for cleaning dirty noses.

Historically, the two most dreaded words of school-aged students and parents alike are “science fair.” They conjure up memories of terrariums, exploding volcanoes or models of the solar system. But today’s Science and Engineering Fair is so much more and can lead to scholarships, international competitions and careers.

Students throughout the state of Mississippi have two outstanding opportunities in this new year to show off their art skills and win some amazing prizes in the process.

For the sixth consecutive fall semester, The University of Southern Mississippi’s Sport Management program partnered with the New Orleans Pelicans on the team’s Collegiate Sales Project—an experiential learning initiative that immerses students in the professional sport sales industry.

In Vicksburg, the Mississippi River doesn’t just flow — it speaks. It moves slowly and deliberately, thick and muddy, carrying…

Many Mississippians may enjoy a family gathering, trip to the National Civil Rights Museum or, possibly, sleeping-in on Jan. 19. But this Martin Luther King Jr. Day, more than 150 University of Mississippi community members have scheduled different plans: serving their community.