It’s time to nominate your favorite High Cotton grower. Since 1995, the High Cotton Awards have been presented to producers who grow a profitable, high-quality crop and are willing to share with other cotton growers timely, hard-hitting information about technological advances, governmental regulations, and marketing opportunities.

Farm Press, in cooperation with the National Cotton Council and the Cotton Foundation, created the High Cotton award program.

The goal of the program is to identify the top cotton producers in each growing region and to share their successful production methods with the readers of Southeast Farm Press, Delta Farm Press, Southwest Farm Press, and Western Farm Press.

In choosing the winners we look at three important criteria:

The presentation of the winners will take place in late February of 2025 at the Mid-South Farm and Gin Show. It will be the 31^st time the awards have been presented.

Related:30th High Cotton class recognized

Now more than ever, the awards signify the adaptability of cotton growers in the face of a rapidly changing market, technological advancements and formidable regulatory environment.

Past winners run the gambit, from large operators to small, from young self-starters to older farmers whose families have been in the business for generations.  They are leaders in the industry. Some are producers who quietly and consistently bring in the big crop without much fanfare.

Be sure to check out those who have received the award – the link is at the end of this commentary – there may be some surprisingly absent names on the list.

The nominees are not preselected by Farm Press, nor by the Cotton Foundation. We need your help to find the next winner.

The deadline for nominations is Aug. 30. High Cotton Award finalists will be chosen for each of the four cotton growing regions, based on their profitability, the consistent quality of their cotton, and their environmental stewardship.

A grower’s contributions to his community and the cotton industry will also be a determining factor. Each of the four regional High Cotton Award winners will receive an expense paid trip for two to the Mid-South Farm and Gin Show at Memphis, Tenn., where they will be honored.

Related:Edward Greer: Delta High Cotton Award winner

Click to view how winners are determined and to print an application.

See our past High Cotton Award winners.