7:20 a.m. – Rebekah Staples – Fellow on Work, Empower Mississippi

Topic: Empower and their most report studying Mississippi's labor force participation rate.

MS is consistently ranked as having one of the lowest labor force participation rates in the country.

The goal of this research is to help determine why more Mississippians aren't in the workforce so we can pave a better path forward.

8:35 a.m. – Houston Battle – MS Catfish Farmer of the Year

Bio - Houston is part owner of Battle Fish Farm and Pride of the Pond processing plant in Tunica, Mississippi.

He grew up on the family fish farm, diligently working his way up to now operate the farm alongside his father, Bill Battle, and brother, Cooper Battle.

Houston’s analytical skills have driven key renovations on the farm to optimize the family business.

Houston earned his degree in business administration at Mississippi State University. In 2019, he married his beautiful wife, Hannah, in Snowmass, Colorado. Houston currently serves on the Catfish Farmers of America board and participates in the Young Farmers Leadership Program.

Topic: August is catfish month and Houston is the 2024 Catfish Farmer of the Year here in MS.

Houston has a family history in the catfish industry