In 2022, Pam Tolbert became the recipient of the Sergeant First Class Sean Cooley and Specialist Christopher Horton Congressional Gold Star Family Fellowship. House Resolution 107, legislation I was proud to author, passed in the U.S. House of Representatives in October 2019.  The legislation established a twelve-month, fully-funded fellowship in a Congressional office for siblings, spouses, parents, and children of service members who paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to America.

Pam served as a voice for Mississippi's First Congressional District Gold Star Families. She is a true public servant, demonstrating a deep devotion to Gold Star Families and to the veterans who live in Mississippi's First Congressional District. 

The harvest season has begun for Chickasaw County sweet potato farmers Caleb and Katelynn Englert. Farming is a way of life for them - a tradition that has been passed down through the generations. "Martin, Tennessee was the location for the first farm in our family and that was many years ago," Caleb said. "Eventually, the family relocated to Chickasaw County."

Approximately nine years ago, Caleb branched out on his own, growing primarily organic and conventional sweet potatoes. He faces challenges similar to those of other sweet potato growers, particularly with rising costs of labor, fertilizer, and fuel. "The increasing expenses for essential supplies are really hurting growers," Caleb said. 

Members of the House Agriculture Committee - of which I am a member, are working diligently toward passage of the next Farm Bill. This bill makes significant investments in agriculture, putting the farm back in the Farm Bill. We encourage feedback from our farmers and ranchers as we move forward with the legislative process.

We are pleased to announce that the Congressional App Challenge (CAC), a competition designed to encourage student participation in computer science and coding. We will be hosting our annual coding competition this year. Students are encouraged to register online and submit their app by October 24th.

The Congressional App Challenge is open to all middle and high school students in the First Congressional District. The winning app will be eligible to be on display in the U.S. Capitol, honoring winners across the United States. For more information about the competition, please send an email to [email protected].

We are pleased to introduce Deputy Director of Communications Claire Evans. The Saltillo native is a 2023 graduate of the University of Mississippi, where she majored in Integrated Marketing Communications. Claire has begun traveling throughout the First District with members of our team, telling stories of Mississippi's outstanding citizens like 104-year-old Gilbert Keith in Mooreville. "I like to think creatively and to write stories about the people and places I visit," Claire said. "It is an honor to be a part of Team Kelly." If you would like to nominate a veteran to be featured in our newsletter, please send an email to [email protected].

General Eric M. Smith, Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps

Lieutenant General Jerry Carter, Deputy Commandant, Information (DCI)

Mississippi Levee Board and the Yazoo-Mississippi Delta Levee Board

East Central Community College President Dr. Brent Gregory and Vice President for External Relations Lucas Calvert

DeSoto County Regional Utility Authority (DCRUA)