By Doug Milne,
Sanderson Farms Championship Correspondent
Golf legend Jack Nicklaus once noted that “achievement is largely the product of steadily raising one’s levels of aspiration and expectation.”
Driven largely by a like-minded sentiment, 132 men are poised to compete in this week’s Sanderson Farms Championship, win, and achieve golfing immortality.
Those men, though, were far from the only ones on site at The Country Club of Jackson, Mississippi determined to build on achievement. An equal force to be reckoned with, on Tuesday, a packed clubhouse ballroom of women were on hand for the 11th annual Women’s Day presented by International Paper. And, in many ways, they were effectively cooking up their own recipes for success and achievement.
This year’s highly entertaining speaker was author, chef, TODAY Show personality, and breast cancer survivor, Elizabeth Heiskell. Not only did the Mississippi native draw roars of laughter from the gathered group of businesswomen by sharing her life story, but she inspired confidence, conviction, and creativity by touching on everything from beating breast cancer and grating cheese, to being uprooted from city life for life on a farm. Part of her time on stage even included hands-on cooking tips.
“It was so great having Elizabeth here today and to hear of a woman from Mississippi who has reached such a high level of success,” said Mary B. Taylor, M.D., M.S.C.I, Friends of Children’s Hospital. “Her inspirational story of finding the hope and joy in things is important, because it’s the kind of thing we see every day at the hospital. I just thought it was awesome.”
“I was sitting in the crowd today, thinking about all the wonderful Women’s Day events we’ve had here over the years, and I honestly believe this was my favorite,” said Megan West, WAPT evening news anchor. “Elizabeth is from Mississippi. She ties that local angle together with the fact that she’s a woman in business, a self-made entrepreneur with experience so many other women can relate to. She came back from breast cancer, led her family, and grew her business as she lived out her dreams. I think she’s the perfect speaker we could have had for this event.”
“This is about so much more than just networking,” said Heiskell. “It’s about Mississippi and many of the most remarkable people in this state and many of the great things they’re doing. I came here many years ago when the tournament was first starting in a much different position. I was carrying people’s bags, cleaning the floor, and things like that. So, to be here to speak today to all these lovely women was almost too much. I’ll never forget it. It was just magical.”
“Years ago, when I first met Steve Jent, Executive Director of the Sanderson Farms Championship, he mentioned that a big part of his vision for the tournament was getting women involved,” said West. “So often, people think of golf as a men’s sport, but this event has diluted that line in so many ways. Not only does it get women out to the course to see how incredible everything looks, we get to celebrate women in business.”
In addition to the objectives of uniting women for networking purposes, a big part of Women’s Day is to help bring attention to Children’s of Mississippi, the Sanderson Farms Championship’s primary beneficiary.
“We heard so much today about how the contributions from the Sanderson Farms Championship have helped improve the surroundings at Children’s of Mississippi, as well as the quality of care to patients,” said West.
“Specifically, it’s about raising awareness and funds to the hospital,” said Taylor. “With the Sanderson Farms Championship having generated more than $18 million for us over the years, things like this do make a big difference.”
Not only does the Sanderson Farms Championship help raise money for the hospital, but events like Women’s Day help connect the golfing community to our local and state community, as well. That, in turn, connects everyone to Children’s of Mississippi with it being the only children’s hospital in the state.
“This tournament does such a great job of connecting to the patients,” Taylor added. “The tee markers are hand-painted by the patients and there are signs with patients’ stories placed all around the golf course. It’s a great integration of the charity with the event, and Women’s Day is a big part of that. So, it’s just all really, really, special.”
“Being at Women’s Day each year is always so inspirational and enjoyable,” said Yolanda Cooper, who works in the prepared foods division of Sanderson Farms. “When I first attended the Sanderson Farms Championship in 2023, I never had any idea it did so much for so many people. I just thought it was a men’s golf tournament, but the support this event gives to so many is just incredible. And, it’s here at events like Women’s Day where I get brought up to speed on all this event does.”
Even more fitting would be for all this event…achieves.
