The Tenn-Tom Waterway consists of ten locks and dams, connecting 16,000 miles of inland waterways to the Gulf of Mexico. Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, and Kentucky make up the four-state waterway corridor.

Today, we celebrate Jasmaan Banipal, the winner of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge for Mississippi's First District. Jasmaan, a junior at the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science in Columbus, created MSAGRI, an app designed to help farmers make data-driven decisions using comprehensive visual landscapes.

The app uses machine learning to analyze data from federal and state monitoring systems that track weather-related parameters. MSAGRI provides farmers with insights into factors such as wind speed, humidity, temperature, and planting conditions across various regions of Mississippi.

Jasmaan was inspired by the importance of agriculture in Mississippi. His goal in developing this app was to support local farmers and improve their operations. "I've been doing computer science projects since I was 13, and I'm proud of the work I've done with this app," Jasmaan said. 

We commend Jasmaan for his achievements and the meaningful contribution he made to the Congressional App Challenge. 

The Prairie Queen, originally named in the 1950s, is a historic house built in 1896. It sits on a 150-acre farm, where the Howells have around 36 head of cattle. The house and land have been in Ron's family since the 1960s. They are restoring the house to its original glory. "I grew up here, and I'm anxious to get it restored and open for people to enjoy it like I did," Ron said. 

The Howells have dreamed of sharing the Prairie Queen's beauty and history with the public for 30 years. After hosting their daughter's wedding on the property last year, they decided to transform it into an event space. They project the venue will be open in January 2026.

We are grateful for Ron's outstanding service and congratulate the Howels on their entrepreneurial journey. 

The holidays are fast approaching, and we want to recognize Mullins and Norma Doles, the owners of Merry Christmas Tree Farm in Nesbit.

The couple purchased their 40-acres of land in 1980 before deciding to transform it into a Christmas tree farm. The farm opened to the public in 1990 and has become a beloved family tradition, with four generations of the Doles family working on the farm. "It's hard work, but we love it," Mullins said. 

The Doles currently have about 1,500 trees, which take five to six years to fully grow. However, the family has lost around 800 trees in the past two years due to harsh winter weather. "The ice storm took out almost half of them," Mullins said.

Despite the challenges, the Doles continue to plant new trees and pursue what they love. We appreciate the hard work and dedication of Mississippi farmers.

Today, we recognize State Junior Vice-Commander Shannon Crow. Team Kelly recently had the privilege of speaking with Shannon at the Joe H. Morehead VFW Post 3806 in Eupora, where he previously served as Post Commander for three years before being appointed State Inspector. 

Shannon has had a distinguished 24-year military career, during which he has completed numerous major assignments and survived the 9/11 attacks. While stationed in Atlanta with Forces Command, Shannon was at the Pentagon for a meeting on September 11, 2001, when he was briefed that both towers of the World Trade Center had been struck. He was in a room around the corner when the building was hit. "The room shook, and you were nearly thrown out of your seat. We all knew what had happened," Shannon said. After the impact, everyone attempted to locate colleagues, only to be instructed to leave the area due to reports of another inbound plane.

Shannon was commissioned into the U.S. Army in 1980 after completing the ROTC Program at Mississippi State University. He served four years in Heidelberg, Germany, with the 43rd Signal Battalion, where he held roles such as Telecommunications Center Shift Officer and Company Executive Officer. Shannon later completed two tours of service in South Korea, including roles with the 2nd Command Support Coordination Team in Taegu, followed by a position as 8th Army Deputy G6/311th Theater Signal Command Forward Detachment OIC during his second tour in Seoul. Shannon is currently a Field Enumerator for the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture.

Shannon's service to our country has been exemplary throughout his military career. "I would do it all again," he said. We are grateful for everything Shannon Crow has done for our great nation.

Recently, Team Kelly joined state and local officials to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new Liebherr Logistics Center in Tupelo. Liebherr, a Swiss company, ranks as one of the leading manufacturers of construction equipment globally. The company is establishing distribution and manufacturing operations on 118 acres in HIVE Business Park. This development represents a significant economic boost for the First District and the State of Mississippi.

Burnsville Mayor David Nixon, Board Member of Yellow Creek State Inland Port Authority and Executive Director of Yellow Creek Port Robert Dexter

Saildrone CEO Richard Jenkins

Ocean Aero CEO Kevin Decker