“Legendary Farmer Robert Robinson Retires”

by: Frank Taylor

Mr. Robert Robinson has lived and worked in rural America for more than eighty years. Robert family’s lineage is tied directly to the natural resources. Robert’s parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents all harnessed the soil to feed their families and to generate income.

Farming is challenging. The input costs of land, labor, fertilizer, and fuel make farming unobtainable for most individuals to engage in agrarian trade. As the news of Robert Robinson’s retirement filtered through the farm community, a bell rang. Robert’s retirement signaled the loss of another veteran farmer who loved the mechanics of farming. This commitment and skill set will not be replicated. 

Most individuals in the Brookhaven, MS, area affectionately call Mr. Robert Robinson, “Rob,” the man with the beautiful farm along interstate fifty-five. Travelers saw an idyllic vegetable farm operation. Rob planted green beans, lima beans, squash, okra, tomatoes, watermelon, peas, corn, peppers, turnip, mustard, and collard greens. Rob is described as one of the most outstanding Small Farmer in the South. Rob’s vast knowledge of farming was ingrained in him, as he collaborated with his parents and from experimenting with various crops throughout his years of farming. 

Rob loyal clients will deeply miss his professionalism and customer service. Rob employed a meticulous process when harvesting his vegetables crop. Rob never sold unclean vegetables to his customers. Rob’s farming ethics and intellectual conversations will not be duplicated. Mr. Robert Robinson, you may have hung up the trace chains from farming, however, we will continue to lean on you for leadership through this path in the farm community. You have profoundly impacted the lives of rural Americans. 

We will write a series of articles about Robert Robinson’s life in rural America. Congratulations from the Winston County Self Help Cooperative based in Louisville, MS.