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October 27-28, 2023
Southern Foodways Symposium ⟶
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October 27-28, 2023
Southern Foodways Symposium ⟶

Oral Histories

The SFA oral history program documents life stories from the American South. Collecting these stories, we honor the people whose labor defines the region. If you would like to contribute to SFA’s oral history collections, please send your ideas for oral history along with your CV or Resume and a portfolio of prior oral history work to info@southernfoodways.org.

< Back to Oral History project: Sorghum: Southern Sugars

ORAL HISTORY

Larry Goss

Goss Farms Sorghum

Larry Goss, born in 1947, was raised in Henagar, Alabama. His parents, L.D. and Willodean Goss cooked sorghum each fall. Growing up, Larry was responsible for grinding the cane. After he was finished, he would watch his father boil the freshly squeezed sorghum juice into a thick syrup. Noting his interest, his father, L.D. Goss taught him how to cook sorghum.

As his parents advanced in age, Larry Goss took over at the sorghum pan. Along with his sister-in-law Renee, Larry Goss cooks much of the sorghum syrup the Gosses grow.

Date of interview:
2018-11-27

Interviewer:
Annemarie Anderson

Photographer:
Annemarie Anderson

Download Transcript

“

“I don’t have an earliest memory. That’s all I’ve ever known, been around it my entire life. When we moved into this area, they set up the syrup mill and started, and I think I was two years old.” - Larry Goss

Other Project Interviews

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Phil Parker

Phil Parker cooks sorghum in Harrisburg, Arkansas.

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Ronald Jenkins

Ronald Jenkins cooks sorghum in Bruce, Mississippi.

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Steve Patterson

Steve Patterson cooks sorghum in Rome, Georgia.

Interview

Kaitlyn Elliot

Kaitlyn Elliot cooks sorghum in Gravel Switch, Kentucky.

Interview

Terry Hughes

Terry Hughes cooks sorghum in Young Harris, Georgia.

Interview

Renee Goss

Renee Goss cooks sorghum with her family in Henagar, Alabama.

Interview

Kenneth Goss

Kenneth Goss cooks sorghum with his family in Henagar, Alabama.

Interview

Michael Prince

Michael Prince cooks sorghum in Sherwood, Tennessee.

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