A rose to Bricklee Miller who is stepping down as the executive director of Mississippi Horse Park in Starkville after 24 years at the helm. Miller took over as director in 2000, just a year after the Horse Park opened. Miller said according to her records, the Horse Park has drawn almost $1.5 million visitors and generated $63 million in economic impact during her 24 years. The Horse Park holds an average of 50 events annually drawing 60,0009 visitors. Among the popular events are the Rotary Classic Rodeo, the Lucky Dog Barrel Race and the Golden Triangle Kennel Club of Mississippi Dog Show. The facility has won awards for its quality as well. It’s hard to imagine that the Horse Park would be what it is today without Miller’s enthusiasm, hard work and vision. He has laid the foundation for years to come as a new leader moves into the director’s position. The community owes Miller a debt of gratitude for her efforts in making the Horse Park an unqualified success.
A rose to the FORGE for its efforts in raising awareness among girls of careers in the construction industry through its FORGE Construction Camp for Girls, held this week at the East Mississippi Community College Mayhew campus. A dozen girls spent the five-day camp talking to skilled trade professionals, touring construction sites and learning hands-on skills like plumbing and roofing. One of the key factors in the wage gap between males and females is the type of occupation each gender pursues. We know that girls are underrepresented not only in STEM fields, but in construction. While there has been considerable attention and resources devoted to attracting girls to STEM fields, this is an important effort that has focused on introducing girls to good-paying jobs in the construction industry. We applaud the FORGE for their work in this area.
A rose to the organizers and participants who staged Juneteenth events in the Golden Triangle to recognize and celebrate a key date in the long journey toward racial justice in this country. The celebration recognizes the events of June 19, 1864 when the last of America’s slave population were informed of their freedom, two months after the end of the Civil War and two years after Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. For Black Americans, Juneteenth represents the country’s progress toward the ideals expressed in the July 4, 1776 Declaration of Independence in recognizing that “all men are created equal.” Juneteenth wasn’t then, and is not today, the culmination of the battle for equal rights. It is, instead, a key milestone in the continuing pursuit of equal rights for all. Juneteenth allows us to celebrate progress toward that goal.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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