Endowment Sets Permanent Cotton Extension Position at NC State
January 6, 2021 An endowment from the North Carolina Cotton Producers Association (NCCPA) has established the Marshall W. Grant Distinguished Professorship in Cotton Extension at the North Carolina State University (NCSU) College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS).
The endowment, announced by the NCCPA board of directors during the association’s annual board meeting on Jan. 6, honors the legacy of an iconic North Carolina cotton producer and revered industry leader and secures the future of cotton Extension research for generations of the state’s cotton farmers.
“This endowment will ensure funding for cotton Extension at NCSU in perpetuity,” said David Parrish, NCCPA CEO, in making the announcement. “I commend the vision of our board and appreciate the long-standing, strong working relationship we have with NCSU’s CALS that led to this endowment. Our goal was to honor Mr. Grant’s legacy while benefiting North Carolina cotton producers, and I think we succeeded.”
Marshall Grant was recently inducted into the North Carolina Agricultural Hall of Fame after being nominated by the NCCPA.
“My father traveled across our state and many parts of this country working diligently to shore up support for what eventually became the Boll Weevil Eradication Program,” said David Grant, a fifth generation cotton producer in Northampton County and past president of NCCPA. “Dad understood the impact timely treatments and intensive trapping across broad acreage could have on eradicating what was our industry’s most destructive pest.”
The elder Grant’s vision paved the way for improved economic and environmental sustainability for U.S. cotton. The establishment of the Marshall W. Grant Distinguished Professorship in Cotton Extension Endowment will ensure the continuance of applied research through the CALS and their cotton Extension program.
Richard Linton, Dean of the CALS at NCSU, underscored the impact of the cotton industry in North Carolina.
“Cotton is a major cash crop for our state, adding 15,000 jobs and roughly $300 million to our state’s economy each year,” Linton said. “NSCU is very proud of our long-standing partnership with NCCPA and the work we have done together. This generous endowed investment solidifies the future of Extension research and speaks volumes for the forward-thinking leadership of our cotton producers, their commitment to this partnership and the future of North Carolina cotton.”
Based on information provided by the North Carolina Cotton Producers Association
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