Mike Tate, a cotton producer from Huntsville, Ala., was elected National Cotton Council (NCC) chairman for 2019, during the NCC’s annual meeting at San Antonio, Texas, February 8-10. Tate moves up from NCC vice chairman to succeed Ron Craft, a cotton producer from Plains, Texas.

"Mike, we are very fortunate you have agreed to answer the industry's call to serve as the chairman for 2019," said Craft. "Bringing to the council your proven leadership and expertise, we know your tenure will be successful and we wish you the very best during your year of service."

A graduate of the NCC’s Cotton Leadership Program, Tate previously served as a NCC director and has served on numerous NCC committees. He served as a director and board advisor of the NCC’s export promotions arm, Cotton Council International, and has held multiple leadership positions in the NCC’s American Cotton Producers including as its chairman in 2016-17.

"I am looking forward to serving this industry in 2019. As chairman of the National Cotton Council, I will do my best to represent the interests of all segments of the industry," said Tate at the annual meeting. "I look forward to addressing the issues before us, and helping shape a more profitable future for our industry."

A past president of Southern Cotton Growers, Inc., Tate also has held leadership positions in Cotton Incorporated, the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives and many state agricultural organizations. He currently serves as a Staplcotn director.

Tate is the owner/manager of Tate Farms, a family-owned partnership in Meridianville, Ala., where cotton is the principal crop of the 6,000-acre Tennessee Valley operation. He also is president of Cotton Growers Cooperative Gin & Warehouse and has an interest in Tate Farms’ agri-tourism operation, “Cotton Picking Pumpkins.”

The recipient of numerous honors, Tate received the Cotton Grower Magazine’s Cotton Grower Achievement Award and Farm Press Publications’ High Cotton Award. A graduate of Alabama A&M University, he has a daughter and three grandchildren.

The NCC’s vice chairman for 2019 is Kent Fountain, a Surrency, Ga., ginner.

Elected as NCC vice presidents are Kirk Gilkey, ginner, Corcoran, Calif., and Ron Harkey, warehouser, Lubbock, Texas. Re-elected as vice presidents are: Robert Lacy, Jr, cottonseed processor, and Kevin Brinkley, marketing cooperative executive, both from Lubbock, Texas; Joe Nicosia, merchant, Cordova, Tenn.; and David Hastings, textile manufacturer, Mauldin, South Carolina. Re-elected as secretary-treasurer is Barry Evans, a producer from Kress, Texas.

NCC staff officers include: Dr. Gary Adams, NCC president and chief executive officer; Reece Langley, vice president, Washington Operations; Craig Brown, vice president, Producer Affairs; Dr. Jody Campiche, vice president, Economics and Policy Analysis; Dr. Bill Norman, vice president, Technical Services; Harrison Ashley, vice president, Ginner Services; John Gibson, vice president, Member Services; and Marjory Walker, vice president, Council Operations.