Host: Cristan Engelke
Guests: Michael Lee
VIDEO
DESCRIPTION
Want to see what got built on an old DeSoto County landfill? Learn more and plan a visit here: www.desotocountyms.gov/882/Agri-Ed-Center
For 33 years it sat closed, promised to the community as a park. Today it is the DeSoto County Agri-Education Center, a 200-acre, $19 million facility on Starlanding Road in Nesbit, built without a tax increase. In this episode of Southaven Business Beat, host Cristan Engelke sits down with director Michael Lee, a former county supervisor, to walk through what is actually out there: a 2,000-seat indoor arena, an outdoor covered arena, stall barns, a teaching kitchen, a greenhouse, walking and equestrian trails, and programs from 4-H to Master Gardeners to Mississippi State University Extension.
We cover how the vision started, why the stables have no horses on site yet, the livestock shows for cattle, sheep, chickens, and show rabbits, the plan for a fishing setup on the property, and what surprised Michael most about running a build this size for the county.
If you live in Southaven, Horn Lake, Hernando, Olive Branch, or anywhere across DeSoto County, North Mississippi, the Memphis metro, or the wider Mid-South, this is a facility in your backyard most people have never toured.
CHAPTERS
- Coming Up (00:00 – 0:09)
- Meet Michael Lee and the Agri-Education Center (0:09 – 1:02)
- Where the vision started (1:02 – 6:11)
- Sponsor: Pure Focus Media (6:11- 7:02)
- Master Gardeners, the greenhouse, and pollinators (7:02 – 10:35)
- Events and calendar (10:35 – 12:05)
- Barrel racing and rodeo culture (12:05 – 13:13)
- Touring the grounds, arena, and teaching kitchen (13:13 – 14:51)
- County operations and emergency role (14:51 – 16:52)
- The fishing rodeo idea (16:52 – 19:29)
- Sponsor: Wisdom Integrators (19:29 – 20:24)
- Stables and the outdoor arena (20:24 – 22:26)
- Livestock and show rabbits (22:26 – 24:50)
- If budget were no object (24:50 – 27:08)
- What surprised Michael most (27:08 – 28:16)
- Setup challenges and county requirements (28:16 – 33:29)
- Education programs and 4-H (33:29 – 36:07)
- How to visit (36:07 – 37:02)
- Subscribe and outro (37:02 – 37:37)
Plan your visit to the Agri-Education Center or book the space:
www.desotocountyms.gov/882/Agri-Ed-Center
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Want to sponsor the show or appear as a guest? Email [email protected].
Sponsors:
Southaven Business Beat is produced in partnership with the Southaven Chamber of Commerce and Pure Focus Media. Ready to grow your brand with video? Visit PureFocus.media
This episode is brought to you by Wisdom Integrators, the strategic tech partner helping businesses work smarter through workflow automation, process improvement, and digital transformation. Book a consultation at WisdomIntegrators.com
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