Through a grant from Monsanto to The Cotton Foundation, eleven U.S. cotton industry members have been selected to participate in the National Cotton Council’s (NCC) 2018-19 Emerging Leaders Program.

The program, now in its 6^th year, provides participants with a better understanding of how the NCC carries out its mission of ensuring the U.S. cotton industry’s seven segments can compete effectively and profitably in the raw cotton, oilseed and U.S.-manufactured product markets at home and abroad.

Participants will get an in-depth look at the U.S. cotton industry infrastructure and the issues affecting the industry’s economic well-being, the U.S. political process, and the NCC’s programs as well as its policy development and implementation process. “Participants will also be briefed on the activities of the Cotton Council International that are aimed at developing and maintaining export markets for U.S. cotton, manufactured cotton products and cottonseed products,” says Ron Craft, NCC Chairman.

The Emerging Leaders Program also provides participants with professional development, communications, and presentation training, insight into business etiquette, instruction for engaging with the news media, and utilizing social media tools and tactics.

Class members will participate in three sessions. The first session, set for the week of June 17, 2018, in Memphis and St. Louis, will provide an orientation to the NCC, professional development, communication skills training, and an agribusiness briefing. During the second session, class members will see policy development at the NCC’s 2019 Annual Meeting in February. The third session, to be conducted later in 2019 in Washington, D.C., will provide a focus on policy implementation and international market development.

Participants in this year’s Emerging Leaders Program include: Producers – Philip Edwards, III, Smithfield, Va.; Mark Korn, Dyersburg, Tenn.; Darryl Mendes, Riverdale, Calif.; and Reid Nichols, Altus, Okla.; Ginner– Tony Newton, Slaton, Texas; Merchants – Roberto Ferrer and Nick Peay, both of Cordova, Tenn.; and Barret Folk, Houston, Texas; Warehouser – Jordan Grier, Taylor, Texas; Marketing Cooperatives – Chris McClain, Grenada, Miss.; and Cottonseed – Amy West, Overland Park, Kan.