Making the magic happen

You might be wondering how it is that our Witt crew 1) was able to go boating on the Mississippi with writer and raconteur Hank Burdine (also legit a Levee Board Commissioner!) and his sidekick, river enthusiast Bo Weevil; 2) were given a private concert by country music star Steve Azar; 3) learned about flooding in the Delta from Chief Engineer of the Levee Board Peter Nimrod; and 4) got to hang out in a cotton field and have lunch in a tractor shed with Delta planter Charlie Weissinger.

Yes, Witt Professors Waggoner and Phillips are both from Mississippi, and this state IS kind of like a small town, and, yes, they are both resourceful and charming, BUT, in this case — for all of the above — the magic happened because they found the right person: Wesley Smith.

As Executive Director of the Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Wes was uniquely placed to help us make connections in the Greenville area, but he went above and beyond, accompanying us and serving as our own personal guide and commentator.

Because of his generosity, our group was able to experience so much more of Mississippi culture firsthand, including an incredible steak dinner at Doe's Eats, the Delta's world-famous James Beard Award-winning restaurant, where he served as our host. (He was adamant: “When in Greenville, you got to go to Doe’s!” — and he made it happen.) 

Not a guy to claim the limelight, Wes nevertheless can be seen in the background of some of our photos from the trip. See if you can spot him! (OK, so the red arrows might be a giveaway...)