Spring 2022 Showcase Gillespie

John Macon Gillespie

Vardaman, Mississippi: A Cultural ‘Melting Pot’ in the Sweet Potato Capital of the World

This project focuses on life in my native Vardaman, Mississippi, with a strong emphasis on the town’s sweet potato farming industry.

John Macon Gillespie is a sports journalist originally from Vardaman, Mississippi. Gillespie earned his bachelor’s degree in print journalism from the University of Mississippi in May of 2020 and has furthered his education in the Master of Journalism program at UM. Gillespie currently serves as the sportswriter at the Calhoun County Journal in Bruce, Mississippi, as well as the publisher of “The Grove Report,” a Sports Illustrated site dedicated to coverage of Ole Miss athletics.