Delta Council’s 87th Annual Meeting Brings the Heat

CLEVELAND, MS – Mississippians of all walks of life came together last Friday for the 87th annual meeting of the Delta Council.  Established in 1935, the Delta Council brings together area agricultural, business, and professional leadership, and is one of the state’s most influential organizations.

Mississippi’s rice industry has been well ingrained in the history of the Delta Council and many rice farmers have served in various leadership roles for the Council over the years.  USA Rice, by extension, works closely with Delta Council leadership and staff to ensure advocacy efforts are coordinated and the Delta is well-represented within USA Rice.

This year’s meeting included an invocation and recognition of the 2022 Delta Honor Graduates and Top Honor Graduate, the presentation of the Good Middling Community Service Award, and recognition of both incoming and outgoing Delta Council Officers.  Attendees also heard from David Magee, bestselling author and native of Oxford, Mississippi, as this year’s keynote speaker.

“To those that suggest that the Delta’s best times are behind us, we look forward to proving them wrong,” said Patrick Johnson, outgoing president of the Delta Council.  “I’ve learned that no matter what the issue is, you can count on people in the Delta to step forward to work together to address it.”

Succeeding Johnson as president is Wade Litton of Greenwood.  Litton is the chief executive officer of Wade Incorporated and is the first third-generation president of Delta Council.  Both Litton’s father, Bill Litton, and grandfather, George Wade, served in the role.