Roger D. Crowder This is Me

Education

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1. 1. Starkville Daily News Online

   www.starkvilledailynews.com/ar - [Cached]

   Published on: 7/29/2003   Last Visited: 7/29/2003

   Crowder makes new run for ag commissioner By CONSWELLA BENNETT/Starkville Daily News
   
   For Roger D. Crowder, agriculture is near and dear to his heart, and he is trying again for the position that he feels passionate about -- agriculture.
   
   Crowder, 56, a Republican candidate of Louisville, is running for agriculture commissioner along with three other Republican candidates. Crowder has worked as a 4-H youth agent, county agent, and agricultural marketing specialist for nearly 29 years and currently teaches private computer lessons and works as a farm tax consultant.
   
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   "We are at a crossroads in Mississippi agriculture. We can continue to allow agriculture jobs to leave our state, or we can work to find ways to keep them here and attract more," Crowder said. "I will create good paying agricultural jobs by processing more of the state's raw production. One of every four employees in Mississippi is employed in an agricultural related job."
   
   If elected, Crowder has plans to work with Mississippi universities, assisting farmers in accessing research and technological advancements in production and marketing.
   
   "I am for fewer regulations. I will do away with regulations that have hampered farming and commerce," Crowder said. "I will manage the department in an efficient fiscal manner ensuring that you get the greatest returns for your tax dollars."
   
   Crowder said, "The number one problem in Mississippi is the lack of jobs.
   ...
   "Jobs created based on a state's natural resources will remain in the state," Crowder added. "I strongly believe that my experiences, leadership abilities, people skills, and my continuous desire to serve in this capacity will be an asset as your new Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce."
   
   "Working together with Mississippi State University, Alcorn State University and other university leaders, agriculture committees and boards, associations and other groups, we can grow Mississippi's economy based on our natural resources," Crowder said.
   
   No stranger to the agriculture and commerce industry, Crowder has served on numerous state and public service boards. He has served on Golden Triangle boards, Prairie Opportunity board, Hospital board, Community College Advisory boards, Project Head start board, Home Health care Advisory Board and Community Fund Drive boards.
   
   Crowder is a member of Mt. Moriah M.B. Church and received his bachelor's of science degree from Alcorn State University in agriculture education in 1970; master's of science from Mississippi State University-extension education in 1973; Fundamentals of tax preparation from East Mississippi Community College in 1974; and Fundamentals of Warm Water Fish Diseases from Mississippi State University in 1978.
   
   Crowder is married to Earlene Hamilton and they have three children, Kendralyn, Roslyn and David -- all alumni of MSU.
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   To learn more about Crowder and his campaign, voters can view his web page at www.votecrowder.com.

2. 2. www.mississippilink.com

   www.mississippilink.com/pv/pag - [Cached]

   Published on: 8/16/2003   Last Visited: 8/16/2003

   Following the Aug. 5 primary, a run-off was declared necessary between Republican opponents Roger Crowder (who scored 42 percent of the vote with 99 percent precincts reporting) and Max Phillips (who racked up 25 percent).
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   If Crowder successfully pulls off the Aug. 26 run-off and the Nov. 5 election Crowder will be the first African-American to hold the position for more than a century.
   
   Crowder, 56, is a native of Gulfport and currently resides in Louisville. He graduated from high school in Tallahatchie County and received his bachelor of science degree in Agriculture from Alcorn State University and his master's degree in Extension Education from Mississippi State University. Crowder has been a teacher in Tallahatchie County, has worked for the U.S. Forest Service and has been employed as a USDA Compliance Officer in Leflore, Sunflower, Quitman and Bolivar counties. He has also worked as a grain inspector in Yazoo County. The black Republican said he was not surprised that he survived the primaries. What surprised him, he said, was the fact that a run-off was even necessary.
   
   "I knew I was up against some tough opponents," Crowder said, "but I thought I would have gotten the nomination the first go around. Of course, I'm pleased I'll be in the run-off of Aug. 26."
   
   Crowder said his biggest interest in the position was "helping farmers return a profit to increase the marginal gap between profit and loss on the farm."
   
   "I'm interested in reviewing all farming regulations that have hampered and narrowed the gap between profit and loss. I would also look for any opportunity in niche farming that may help farmers move into specialty marketing," said Crowder, who has been an extension agricultural marketing specialist at Mississippi State University for nearly 29 years. "I would like to see us do a research based food processing facility to teach farmers and to determine the feasibility of processing some of the specialty crops like okra, peas and squash."
   
   Crowder added that he is interested in pushing to take the agricultural production industry in Mississippi a step further by including more development in the processing industries.
   
   "I'd like to involve Mississippi processing in more of the state's raw production. Some of your crops like cotton are basically processed out of the state. I don't think we have one cloth mill in this state. That's money that Mississippians don't get a part of," Crowder said. "For instance, we could ship all our trees out of Mississippi as logs or we can do a finished product. Every step we add to the milling process turning that log into a functioning recliner is added value and more jobs. We need more of that."
   
   Crowder also said he's interested in working with farmers in producing new forms of bio-fuel for a nation that is increasingly wary of its dependence on imported oil, hinting that ethanol and other forms of organic, renewable fuel from crops like corn should be looked at.
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   At this stage though, Crowder said he is "afraid to make promises," however.
   
   A good percentage of the duties on the Commissioner of Agricultural also involve food safety, and Crowder said he plans to work hard in that endeavor, saying extra care is called for in an age with so many deadly food borne illnesses queuing up to take a whack at the U.S. population.
   
   "I would also like to see qualified competent staff as it relates to meat processing facilities in the state," Crowder said. "When you think about mad cow disease and E. coli that's a very significant problem and it needs to be addressed with adequately trained individuals."
   
   Crowder is both African-American and Republican-two descriptions that don't mix very often in Mississippi. Political experts say that Crowder's political stance may prove a plus, however, and that white voters may be increasingly attracted to his campaign for it. Other political opinions assert that Crowder could not have survived the primary without white support. Crowder, who has been Republican for less than a decade, said he adopted the party label for philosophical reasons.
   
   "I think a man ought to earn his way," Crowder said, when asked why he is Republican. "I don't believe in abortion, I believe that the best form of government is the government that's closest to your people, such as the local government. I was a Republican six or eight years ago and didn't know it." He added that he would not allow any partisan behavior to act as a barrier to progress in Mississippi.
   
   "I would not want to give the impression that I would be unwilling to work with people like [U.S. Rep.] Bennie Thompson [D-Miss.] in helping Mississippi farmers get ahead," Crowder said.

3. 3. Newschannel 12 | Reeves, Anderson get party nominations for state treasurer

   www.wjtv.com/servlet/Satellite - [Cached]

   Published on: 8/27/2003   Last Visited: 8/29/2003

   Voters also chose between 56-year-old retired extension service agent Roger Crowder and 56-year-old farmer Max Phillips in the GOP runoff for state commissioner of agriculture and commerce.