Twelve Mustard Seed community members were given the opportunity to decorate an egg representative of Mississippi. This year’s theme was “Iconic Events in Mississippi.”
Last week, the Mississippi Egg Marketing Board (MEMB) presented 12 eggs created by The Mustard Seed ‘Seedsters’ to First Lady Elee Reeves. The MEMB worked with The Mustard Seed, a Christian community for adults with developmental disabilities, to craft the eggs.
Twelve Mustard Seed community members were given the opportunity to decorate an egg representative of Mississippi. The theme for this year’s egg presentation was “Iconic Events in Mississippi” and included the Dixie National Rodeo by artist Charlie Winstead; the Mississippi State Fair by artist Jerry Dearing; the Hal and Mal’s Saint Paddy’s Day Parade by artist Heidi Anderson; the National Folk Festival by artist Jane Kileen; the Double Decker Arts Festival by artist Mary Clair Fairbank; the Juke Joint Festival by artist Logan Chew; Cruisin’ the Coast by artist Caroline Stone; the Natchez Balloon Festival by artist Caroline Wilkerson; the Canton City of Lights Festival by artist Jeff Brock; the Choctaw Indian Fair by artist Benny Baxter; and the Mississippi Science Fest by artist John Carl McKeller.
“The annual Easter egg presentation by our impressive Seedsters is something I look forward to each year,” said First Lady Elee Reeves. “Their hard work, creativity and talent is apparent with each and every painted egg, which perfectly captures Iconic Events in Mississippi. I’m proud to commend the Seedsters, and The Mustard Seed, for continuing this unique and beloved tradition!”
The 12 artists were invited to the Governor’s Mansion to personally present their Easter eggs to the First Lady and to enjoy refreshments following the presentation. “I’m proud to be a part of this event,” said Ryn Laster, president of the Mississippi Egg Marketing Board. “These talented Seedsters work hard on their Easter eggs and the finished products are stunning pieces of art, each in their own unique way. The Mississippi Egg Marketing Board is honored and grateful to First Lady Elee Reeves and her entire staff for hosting this annual event. It’s always a joyful celebration of our special needs community, the changing seasons and our state as a whole.”
For more information about the Mississippi Egg Marketing Board, contact Katie Sansing at (601) 359-1140 or email katie@mdac.ms.gov.
The Mississippi Egg Marketing Board presented 12 eggs created by The Mustard Seed ‘Seedsters’ to First Lady Elee Reeves. Pictured L-R Back Row: Katie Sansing, Events Coordinator for the Mississippi Egg Marketing Board; Jennifer Thompson, Director of the Bureau of Regulatory Services at the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce; Mark Leggett, Member of the Mississippi Egg Marketing Board; Seedster Artist Charlie Winstead; Seedster Artist John Carl McKeller; Seedster Artist Caroline Stone; Brian Ballard with Cal-Maine Foods; First Lady Elee Reeves; Seedster Artist Logan Chew; Seedster Artist Mary Claire Fairbank; Gene Robertson, Member of the Mississippi Egg Marketing Board; Seedster Artist Caroline Wilkerson; and Seedster Artist Benny Baxter. L-R Front Row: Seedster Artist Heidi Anderson; Seedster Artist Jane Kileen; Seedster Artist Jeff Brock; and Seedster Artist Michele Trebotich. Not Pictured: Ryn Laster, Ph.D, President of the Mississippi Egg Marketing Board, and Seedster Artist Jerry Dearing.