New Members and Alternates Appointed to The Cotton Board
January 27, 2020 
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue has announced the appointment of 18 members and 18 alternate members to serve a three-year term on The Cotton Board, ending December 31, 2022.
Newly appointed members are:
- Gokul Krishnan, AR (Importer)
- John Stokes, MA (Importer)
Re-appointed members are:
- Walt Corcoran, AL (Producer)
- Peter M. McGrath, CO (Importer)
- David J. DeFelix, FL (Producer)
- James L. Webb, GA (Producer)
- Suzanne R. Drouhard, KS (Producer)
- Joe Don Long, KY (Importer)
- Kim Mayberry-Holifield, MO (Producer)
- Arlene M. Eastwood, NJ (Importer)
- Laurie A. Rando, NJ (Importer)
- Alisa Ogden, NM (Producer)
- Mark Nichols, OK (Producer)
- Rusty Darby, SC (Producer)
- Catherine S. Via, TN (Producer)
- Matt Farmer, TX (Producer)
- Shelley S. Butler Barlow, VA (Producer)
- Emily Gigot, WA (Importer)
Newly appointed alternate members are:
- Nick McMichen, AL (Producer)
- Jessica Pagano, FL (Importer)
- Dominique D. Brown, MN (Importer)
- Roian Atwood, NC (Importer)
- Michelle Tarry, NJ (Importer)
- Eun Hwang, OR (Importer)
- Frank B. Rogers III, SC (Producer)
- Alex Armour, TN (Producer)
- James W. Jones, Jr., VA (Producer)
Re-appointed alternate members are:
- Alan J. Edwards, FL (Producer)
- Benjamin R. Grimsley, GA (Producer)
- Thomas L. Lahey, KS (Producer)
- Albert Riley James, MO (Producer)
- Nathan Jurva, NM (Producer)
- Tara Hoffmann, NY (Importer)
- Clint Abernathy, OK (Producer)
- James C. Self III, SC (Importer)
- N. Hopper Jr., TX (Producer)
In addition, Barbara Buhr, West Hartford, CT, has been appointed as an importer alternate member to fill a vacant position expiring Dec. 31, 2020, and Melissa Bryant, Irvine, CA, will serve as an importer alternate member for a vacant position expiring Dec. 31, 2021.
“I am pleased to welcome this group of leaders to The Cotton Board and look forward to the guidance they will offer the Cotton Research and Promotion Program,” said Jeff Posey, Texas cotton producer and current Chairman of The Cotton Board. “The Cotton Board has an extensive orientation program to ensure new Members and Alternates are fully up-to-speed and prepared to participate at our upcoming March board meeting.
“On behalf of The Cotton Board, I would like to thank Secretary Perdue for these timely appointments and thank the appointees for their willingness to share their time and expertise with the cotton industry,” he added.
Members, Alternates and consumer advisors of The Cotton Board collaboratively represent the interests of both importers and producers to The Cotton Board and Cotton Incorporated. Their insight contributes to activities of the Cotton Research & Promotion Program targeted at improving the profitability of the entire cotton industry.
For information about becoming a member of The Cotton Board, please contact your local Certified Producer/Importer Organization or the U.S. Department of Agriculture at 540-361-2726 for more information.
Based on information provided by The Cotton Board
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