Fridays on the Farm: Dedication to Land Stewardship

This Friday meet Cleotha Dixon, a third-generation farmer from Lexington, Mississippi. Cleotha’s agricultural journey began at a young age, developing a strong work ethic and deep connection to the land while growing up on his family’s operation, Dixon Farms. Today, Cleotha has transformed the operation into a thriving ecosystem supporting diverse wildlife and vegetation.

Aside from farming, Cleotha has a passion for horses and loved showcasing them at rodeos. His riding skills and care for horses earned him a reputation as a talented cowboy in the local community. Unfortunately, Cleotha suffered a debilitating back injury that ended his rodeo career. Despite this setback, Cleotha’s love for farming and agriculture remained as he took over operations at Dixon Farms, embracing new responsibilities and innovative farming practices to cultivate his land.

Working with USDA

Like many farmers, Cleotha has worked with his local USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to enhance his farm’s sustainability and productivity, and to implement conservation practices that would benefit both his land and livelihood. 

Over the past 23 years, Cleotha was awarded 11 contracts through the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP), NRCS’ flagship conservation program that helps farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners integrate conservation into working lands. EQIP provides technical and financial assistance to agricultural producers and forest landowners to address natural resource concerns. 

His first contract was approved in 2001 to install a pond, pasture and hay planting, and a grade stabilization structure on his property. These enhancements improved his land’s quality and contributed to his farming operation’s overall health and sustainability.

Cleotha is currently working with NRCS to implement herbaceous weed treatment, pasture and hay planting, and prescribed grazing conservation practices to promote sustainable land management and enhance pasture health. Cleotha started implementing these strategies in 2024 and will continue through 2026. By adopting these practices, he aims to improve soil quality, increase forage production, and optimize grazing efficiency, ultimately contributing to his farm’s resilience and productivity.

Living His Passion

Cleotha’s farm is a testament to his dedication to land stewardship and sustainable agriculture. He grows a variety of fruits and vegetables, including apples, cucumbers, collard greens, peaches, plums, squash, and watermelon. 

Amongst the fields and pastures, cattle graze alongside his beloved horses. While he may not train his horses for rodeo, he takes excitement in watching his 10-year-old granddaughter Lulu train and compete with the horses, passing down his love for animals to the next generation.

Recognizing the limitations imposed by his disability, Cleotha relies heavily on the support and assistance of his only son and grandchildren to help get things done around the farm. Cleotha’s determination and unwavering family support have allowed him to continue living out his passion.

More Information

Visit local farms, ranches, forests, and resource areas through our Fridays on the Farm stories. Meet farmers, producers, and landowners who are working to improve their operations with USDA programs.

USDA offers a variety of risk management, disaster assistance, loan, and conservation programs to help producers weather ups and downs in the market and recover from natural disasters as well as invest in improvements to their operations. Learn about additional programs.

For more information about USDA programs and services, contact your local USDA service center.

Tommi Matthews  is a public affairs specialist for NRCS in Mississippi.