The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the appointment of 10 producer members, 10 producer alternate members, seven importer members, seven alternate members and one advisor to serve three-year terms on the Cotton Board from Jan. 1, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2028. Additionally, USDA appointed four individuals to fill board vacancies.
- Alabama: Member John Newby and Alternate Shep Morris
- Florida: Member David DeFelix and Alternate Alan Edwards
- Georgia: Member Ben Grimsley and Alternate Adam McLendon
- Kansas: Member David Light and Alternate Carolyn Seeliger
- Missouri: Member Riley James and Alternate Chad Fullerton
- New Mexico: Member Alisa Ogden and Alternate Nathan Jurva
- Oklahoma: Member Brad Harrison and Alternate Jason Lawles
- South Carolina: Member Rusty Darby and Alternate Frank Rogers
- Tennessee: Member Alex Armour and Alternate Robert Hill
- Virginia: Member Bradley Monahan and Alternate J.W. Jones, Jr.
- Importer-1: Member Laurie Rando and Alternate Douglas Brenner
- Importer-2: Member Avinash Bhaskar and Alternate Jeff Mitch
- Importer-3: Member Lisa Keyser and Alternate James Self III
- Importer-4: Alternate Samantha Gordon
- Importer-5: Member John Rosman and Alternate Yelena Mogelefsky
- Importer-6: Alternate Volkan Tastan
- Importer-15: Alternate Elizabeth Cobarrubias
- Advisor: Karla Magruder
In addition, USDA issued the following appointments to fill board vacancies with terms that end Dec. 31, 2026:
- North Carolina: Alternate Brad Warren
- Texas-1: Member Matt Farmer and Alternate R.N. Hopper Jr.
The Cotton Research and Promotion Act of 1966 authorized a national cotton research and promotion program that is both industry-operated and funded. More information is available on the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Cotton Board webpage.
Since 1966, Congress has authorized the development of industry-funded research and promotion boards to provide a framework for agricultural industries to pool their resources and combine efforts to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets and conduct important research and promotion activities. AMS provides oversight of 21 boards, paid for by industry assessments, which helps ensure fiscal accountability and program integrity.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.