From signed deal to turning out bales -- Mississippi cotton gin is running in seven months' time

HISTORIC NAME

The gin is named for Bogue Chitto Creek, which runs just north of the property. The name derives from "bok chit," meaning "big creek" in the Choctaw Indian language, and refers to clear, swift flowing streams/rivers.

MODULES COMING IN

An area producer pulls round modules onto the gin scales for weighing. A bit less than half the 2012 cotton ginned was from round modules.

STORAGE AREA

The gin is located near a former hog production facility and has ample room for storing both conventional and round modules, says Jay Hoover, director of gin operations.

UNLOADING

Modules, both conventional and round, are loaded from trucks to the feeder conveyor. The gin has three trucks to haul modules, and some customers bring in their own cotton.

UNWRAPPING

The Cherokee Roundup machine lifts and unwraps the covering from round modules as they move into the gin.

RECYCLED

Plastic covers from round modules are packaged and recycled.

GIN MANAGER

Doug Dahlem, left, gin manager, had previously managed gins in Louisiana and Mississippi. The gin has 24 employees and runs two 12-hour shifts.

CHEROKEE EQUIPMENT

The spacious gin interior includes two Cherokee 244 gin stands. Cherokee provided a turnkey package for the new gin.

PROCESSING COTTON

A closeup of one of the gin stands in operation.

FINISHED BALE

A pressed bale comes out of the strapping machine.

IT'S A WRAP

Bales are wrapped prior to loading for shipment to warehouses.

Finished bales are picked up and loaded on trucks for shipment to Staplcotn and Federal Compress warehouses at Greenwood, Miss.

SEED STORAGE

The gin's seed house will hold 8,500 tons of cotton seed.

COW FEED

Most of the gin's cotton seed goes to dairies for feed. Jay Hoover checks out one of the mountains of seed.

HAULING COTTON

Taking a break after hauling cotton to the gin is Mark Fleming, with Joe Huerkamp's farm.

AREA PRODUCERS

Noxubee County, Miss. cotton producers Joe Huerkamp, left, and Lee Skinner, center, chat with Jay Hoover during a visit to the gin.