Thirty-four people were appointed to serve on the Cotton Board. All appointees will serve 3-year terms ending on Dec. 31, 2019.

The re-appointed members:
-Walter L. Corcoran, Eufoula, Ala.;
-David J. DeFelix, Campbellton, Fla.;
-James L. Webb, Leary, Ga.;
-Suzanne R. Drouhard, Danville, Kan.;
-Kim M. Mayberry-Holifield, Kennett, Mo.;
-Jess “Mark” M. Nichols, Altus, Okla.;
-R. Guy Darby, Jr., Chester, S.C.;
-Willie L. German, Somerville, Tenn.;
-Madison "Matt" Farmer, Lamesa, Texas, and Peter M. McGrath, Addison, Texas;
-Lance V. Everett, Stony Creek, Va.;
-Helga L. Ying, Piedmont, Calif.;
-Michael D. Wallace, Bentonville, Ark.;
-Joe D. Long, Irvine, Ky.; and
-Arlene M. Eastwood, Neptune, N.J.    

The re-appointed alternate members:
-Timothy J. Mullek, Robertsdale, Ala.;
-Alan J. Edwards, Jay, Fla.;
-Benjamin R. Grimsley, Weston, Ga.;
-Thomas L. Lahey, Moscow, Kan.;
-Clint D. Abernathy, Altus, Okla.;
-Catherine S. Via, Bells, Tenn.;
-Sigifredo "Sigi" Valverde, Shallowater, Texas;
-Sarah "Sally" M. Gilligan, San Francisco, Calif.;
-James C. Self III, Greenville, S.C.;
-Gary E. Ross, Yardley, Pa.; and
-Tara E. Hoffman, New York, N.Y.

The newly appointed members are: Alisa Ogden, Carlsbad, N.M.; and Monica J. Gorman, Winchester, Mass.

The newly appointed alternate members are: Albert R. James, Sikeston, Mo.; Nathan H. Jurva, Carlsbad, N.M.; Don B. Wakefield, Jackson, S.C.; Shelley S. Butler Barlow, Suffolk, Va.; Laurie A. Rando, Scotch Plain, N.J.; and, Crystal A. Button, Great Neck, N.Y.

Darren J. Hembree, Doerun, Ga., was appointed as an alternate member to fill a vacant Georgia position with a term expiring December 31, 2018.

Research and promotion programs are industry-funded, were authorized by Congress, and date back to 1966, when Congress passed the Cotton Research and Promotion Act. Since then, Congress has authorized the establishment of 22 research and promotion boards. They empower farmers, ranchers, and other stakeholders to leverage their own resources to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets, and conduct important research and promotion activities. AMS provides oversight, paid for by industry assessments, which ensures fiscal responsibility, program efficiency and fair treatment of participating stakeholders. 

Source: USDA AMS