Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces Cotton Board Appointments

Date
Thursday, January 28, 2016 - 12:00pm

Release No.: 020-16

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28, 2016 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack appointed eight members, eight alternate members, and three advisors to serve on the Cotton Board.  All appointees will serve 3-year terms ending on Dec. 31, 2018. 

The re-appointed members are: Adam S. Hatley, Mesa, Ariz.; George T. Warbington, Vienna, Ga.; Benjamin O. Boyd, Sylvania, Ga.; Jeffery T. Posey, Roby, Texas; Mark D. Williams, Farwell, Texas; Janet C. Ydavoy, Yardley, Pa.; Sonja Chapman, Boonton, N.J.; and, John E. Mathews, Pennington, N.J.

The re-appointed alternate members are: Randy L. Braden, Midland, Texas; Catherine B. Allen, Athens, Tenn.; and, Heidi R. Goold, Pewaukee, Wis.       

The newly appointed alternate members are: William B. Harrison, Yuma, Ariz.; John M. Ruark, Jr., Bishop, Ga.; Jaclyn Dixon Ford, Alapaha, Ga.; Julie D. Holladay, Lubbock, Texas; and, Akiko Inui, New York, N.Y.

The re-appointed consumer advisor is Karen E. Kyllo, Springfield, N.J.

Secretary Vilsack also appointed Haywood E. Harrell, Halifax, N.C., and Ava L. Alcaida, Parker, Ariz., as advisors to the Cotton Board.

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.

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