USDA Announces New Appointments to The Cotton Board
February 12, 2023 Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced the appointment of 18 members, 18 alternate members, and one advisor to serve on The Cotton Board. These appointees will serve three-year terms, ending Dec. 31, 2025.
Newly appointed members are Producers Nick McMichen (AL) and Albert Riley James (MO), plus Importers Avinash Bhaskar, Patricia Lesser, John R. Rosman, and Barbara Buhr.
Newly appointed alternate members are Producers Lamont Bridgeforth (AL), David C. Light (KS), Chad Fullerton (MO), and Julieanna Ogle, Producer (TN); plus Importers Pat Perry Werneiwski, Bryan Landreth, Kim Shewalter, and Jim Atkinson.
Reappointed members are Producers David. J. DeFelix (FL), Jimmy Webb (GA), Suzanne R. Drouhard (KS), Alisa Ogden (NM), Mark Nichols (OK), Rusty Darby (SC), Alex Armour (TN), Matt Farmer (TX), and Shelly S. Butler Barlow (VA); and Importers Laurie Rando, Joe Don Long, and Emily Gigot.
Reappointed alternate members are Producers Alan J. Edwards (FL), Benjamin Grimsley (GA), Nathan Jurva (NM), Kathy Fowler (OK), Frank Rogers (SC), R.N. Hopper (TX), and J.W. Jones, Jr. (VA); plus importers Kirk Smithwick, Jay Self, and Jennifer Pisula.
Karla Magruder from NY is a newly appointed advisor.
In addition, USDA appointed four new alternate members to fill board vacancies: Producer Chase Schuchard from TX (term ending Dec. 31, 2024); and Importers Svitlana Linska (term ending Dec. 31, 2023), Dhruv Agarwal (term ending Dec. 31, 2023); and Steven J. Bohman (term ending Dec. 31, 2024).
“On behalf of The Cotton Board, I would like to thank these appointees for their willingness to share their time and expertise with the cotton industry,” said Sonja Chapman, Cotton Importer and current Chairman of The Cotton Board. “These leaders in the industry collectively represent the interests of both cotton importers and cotton producers. We look forward to their service and the oversight and direction they will provide to the Cotton Research & Promotion Program.”
If you are interested in serving on The Cotton Board, please visit CottonBoard.org/getting-involved for more information on the appointment process, the time commitment of serving, the board standards, and the organizations responsible for nominations – or call the U.S. Department of Agriculture at 540-361-2726 for more details.
Based on information provided by The Cotton Board
GET THE NEWSLETTER TODAY!
