USDA leaders visit MSU to honor Jenkins’ 64-year career, highlight ‘Mississippi Model’ partnership

Contact: Mary Kathryn Kight

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Mississippi State University welcomed leaders from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service, or ARS, to campus on Tuesday [Dec. 16] to celebrate the retirement of Johnie Jenkins, an ARS Hall of Fame research plant geneticist whose 64-year career has had a global impact on agriculture.

Over many decades at ARS, Jenkins conducted groundbreaking research, working on boll weevil eradication, transgenic cotton development and nematode resistance, often collaborating closely with MSU researchers. His longtime USDA office was on the MSU campus, allowing him to work with university faculty and Extension personnel—an arrangement often referred to as the ‘Mississippi Model,’ a seamless partnership between MSU and USDA that focuses on solving real-world problems for farmers.

“We have incredible scientists, technicians and administrators, but this group can’t solve big agricultural problems alone,” said Jenkins at his retirement reception. “Seek and develop collaboration in every direction needed to solve the problems.”

Among those on campus for the occasion was MSU alumnus Scott Hutchins, USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics.

“This is a bit of a homecoming for me,” said Hutchins, who earned his MSU master’s degree in entomology. “We had a wonderful experience here. Our first child was born while we were here, and I’ve always held this place in high regard, both personally and professionally.”

Hutchins said Stoneville, home to the MSU Delta Research and Extension Center, is a key example of the strong partnership between MSU and USDA.

“I revisited Stoneville yesterday, and you can’t tell who is who, whose land is whose, or whose buildings are whose—and that’s exactly how it should be,” Hutchins said. “Everyone is laser-focused on farmers and their opportunities and challenges. We cherish the relationship we have with Mississippi State. It’s a model.”

MSU President Mark E. Keenum met with USDA leaders, highlighting the university’s commitment to supporting the agency and advancing agricultural innovation. He pointed to MSU’s work in precision agriculture, agricultural autonomy and unmanned aerial systems as examples of efforts to help farmers stay efficient and profitable amid rising costs.

“As economists, we have to figure out how to outpace those costs to support our farmers. That requires strong research, trusted outreach and great partners,” said Keenum, a former Under Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “We’re excited about the next generation of supercomputers and honored to serve the entire agency. MSU is a resource not only for ARS but across all of USDA.”

MSU houses the Atlas supercomputer, a high-performance system supporting research for the USDA-ARS. Located at MSU’s High Performance Computing Collaboratory, Atlas gives USDA scientists access to cutting-edge computing power for data-intensive projects, from crop genomics to disease modeling.

“This partnership reflects the strong collaboration between MSU and USDA‑ARS,” said Keith Coble, MSU Vice President of Agriculture, Forestry, and Veterinary Medicine. “I find it interesting that just yards away from where Dr. Jenkins spent his decades-long career conducting research on our North Farm is our new supercomputing facility, where the future of ARS and MSU is going to drive agricultural innovation.” 

All of these conversations ultimately circled back to the reason for the day’s gathering: celebrating Jenkins and the collaborative spirit he embodies.

During his retirement speech, Jenkins reflected on a life that began on a small Arkansas cotton and dairy farm during World War II—without electricity, running water or modern conveniences—and culminated in a career dedicated to solving real problems for farmers.

“I literally came from nowhere to where I am today,” Jenkins said. “I have achieved the American dream. I’ve had the opportunity to solve real problems for agriculture in ways that farmers could actually use, and that’s been incredibly rewarding.”

Mississippi State University is taking care of what matters. Learn more at www.msstate.edu.