Page 18 - South Mississippi Living - November, 2025

COAST NOTE
Explore Stone County
Named Mississippi’s “DMO of the Year”
story by Kelsey Sunderman-Foster photo courtesy of Explore Stone County
Explore Stone County has been named the 2025 Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) of the Year by the Mississippi Tourism Association (MTA). The honor, announced during MTA’s annual Governor’s Conference in Vicksburg, recognizes outstanding achievement in destination marketing and community impact among organizations with budgets under $500,000.
The tourism arm of the Stone County Economic Development Partnership, Explore Stone County earned the award for its innovative “Hidden Gems Await” campaign, launched in 2024. Inspired by the county’s mosaic art and natural beauty, the campaign introduced a bold new brand identity featuring vibrant visuals, a new website, statewide marketing, and the “Gems of Stone County” storytelling series highlighting local residents.
“This award celebrates the dedication our team has put into showcasing Stone County as a premier tourism destination,” said Layla Essary, executive director of the Stone County Economic Development Partnership.
The Focus Group, a Biloxi-based agency, collaborated on the campaign, which has
significantly increased online
engagement and visitation. The
project is supported in part by American Rescue Plan Act funds and a local 2 percent tourism tax.
For more information, visit explorestonecounty.com.
Sizzling Success
Black Jack Ranch Named Stone County EDP Business of the Year
story by Cherie Ward
photo courtesy of Black Jack Ranch
Black Jack Ranch has been named Business of the Year by
the Stone County Economic Development Partnership (EDP),
a recognition that highlights both agricultural excellence and driving local economic growth. The EDP’s goal is to make Stone County more visible along the Gulf Coast, and the honor was presented last month during its 25th anniversary celebration.
Founded in 2005 by Rick Carter, the Wiggins-based ranch
has grown from a small family cattle operation into one of Mississippi’s leading Wagyu and Angus programs. What began as a local farm has become one of the Magnolia State’s premier beef operations, blending old-school grit with cutting-edge genetics. Today, Black Jack Ranch not only raises some of the finest beef in the Southeast but also brings it directly to the community through its farm-to-fork storefront and sizzles even more with its very own food truck.
This award emphasizes what many in the community already know, Black Jack Ranch is more than a business. It’s
a cornerstone of Stone County’s agricultural identity and a testament to how innovation and tradition can thrive together.
18 | November 2025
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