[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 5 (Thursday, January 9, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E35-E36]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING MR. PRIMUS WHEELER

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 9, 2014

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor a long 
standing black farmer, Mr. Primus Wheeler. He and his family are 
residents of Tallahatchie County where generations of Wheeler's have 
been farming since 1936.
  The story of the Wheeler family farming does not start with Primus, 
it started with his Father, Jim Wheeler. Jim started out farming a 40 
acre unit rented from the Buford Plantation then later, rented 300 more 
acres until one day he was financially sound enough to purchase more 
than 1000 acres of his own. In order to secure his investment, Jim 
Wheeler invested his life lessons in his sons by teaching them the 
farming business, what it means to be a black farmer, the importance of 
having your own money, and family sticking together and staying 
together.
  Primus began learning the family farming business as a farm hand, day 
supervisor, and even bookkeeper until 1948. These skills he held on to, 
seeing how his father was able to provide a sustainable and prideful 
life for the family.
  In 1948 when he decided to marry, Georgia, his current wife of 65 
years, he knew he too had to provide for his family. So, Primus along-
side his wife, Georgia, began farming their first 40 acres of rented 
land. They grew

[[Page E36]]

cotton, corn, soybeans, livestock, and vegetables. His livestock 
consisted of 30 to 40 cows and 50-100 hogs. In 1957 they purchased 
their first piece of land and moved away from the family owned land and 
farm, ``Wheeler Farm.''
  Primus along-side his wife grew their farm to 100 acres, which is 
still located in the Sharkey Road community between Glendora and Tippo, 
MS. He remembers his first crop in 1957 as his worst but just as he was 
taught and had seen by working with his father on the family farm, 
``you take the good with the bad and learn from it but keep going to 
break through. You just have to make more good crops than bad crops in 
order to survive.''
  He was dealing with bad weather and insects. Over time Primus got 
better being on his own even increasing the farm from the initial 100 
acres to 238 acres at one point then up to 800 acres by renting from 
local retired farmers. He was able to supplement his income by 
harvesting cotton and soybeans for other farmers.
  Primus Wheeler, like so many black farmers had challenges that would 
test the soul and belief of any man.
  Over the years he dealt with challenges like bad seasons in terms of 
weather, insects, and certainly government financing for black farmers. 
For example, he said, more times than not, that he had to lean on hope 
and prayer that FSA would approve his applications for financing, which 
often times came in late July or early August. These were emotional and 
unpredictable times; especially seeing the other farmers planting while 
he was faces the pitfall of FSA. You see, he relied on this money to 
purchase seeds and fertilizers. But nevertheless, he withstood them all 
relying on his father's teachings.
  So, through it all, Primus and his wife was able to educate 9 
children on their small delta farm and unlike him, not one of his 
children had to skip or quit school to stay home and help work the 
farm. Primus retired and turned the farm over to his son, Michael, who 
ran it until the late 1990s. Afterwards, Primus, Jr. gained control of 
the farm and still runs it today. However, in all cases, Primus himself 
is still involved in the decision making of the farm advising and 
mentoring his son and future generations. Hat's off to Mr. Primus 
Wheeler for hanging in there and maintaining his farm.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring, Mr. Primus 
Wheeler, a black farmer from the Mississippi Second Congressional 
District.

                          ____________________