Members Of NCC’s 2023 Emerging Leaders Program Receive Training
Twelve U.S. cotton industry members were chosen for the National Cotton Council’s 2023 Emerging Leaders Program.
Representing many of the industry’s segments were: PRODUCERS – Trey Beyer, Portland, Texas; Ryan Johnson, Wilmot, Arkansas; Nick Marshall, Baker, Florida; John Newby, Athens, Alabama; Ross Rayner, Goodyear, Arizona; Will Sanford, Prattville, Alabama; and Blake Wilbur, Tulare, California.
Other members of the program include: GINNER – David Hardin, Yuma, Arizona; and Steve Sterling, Tuscumbia, Alabama; MERCHANT – Paula Price, Cordova, Tennessee; WAREHOUSER – Randy Squires, Hobart, Oklahoma; COOPERATIVE – Kevin Madding, Bakersfield, California.
Supported by a grant to The Cotton Foundation from Bayer, the Emerging Leaders Program provides participants with a better understanding of how the NCC carries out its mission of ensuring the U.S. cotton industry can compete effectively and profitably in the raw cotton, oilseed and U.S.-manufactured product markets at home and abroad.
Specifically, participants 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.
They also learn about Cotton Council International’s activities aimed at developing and maintaining export markets for U.S. cotton, manufactured cotton products and cottonseed products and the role that Cotton Foundation members play in fostering a healthy U.S. cotton industry.
The Emerging Leaders Program, now in its eleventh year, provides participants with professional development and communications training such as presentation and business etiquette instruction for engaging with the news media and utilizing social media tools and tactics.
The 2023 program members participated in sessions from June 18-22, in Memphis and St. Louis. They received an orientation to the NCC, media training, communication skills training and an agribusiness briefing.
Remaining Opportunities For Texas Ginning Safety Seminars
Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association is entering the final stretch of its safety seminar schedule. It’s a little different than last year, so pick the meeting that works best for you and your gin crew.
The organization will provide a seminar in Canyon, Texas, on Sept. 19. It will be followed by a Sept. 20 meeting in Childress. The safety meetings wrap up Sept. 21 in Lubbock.
The seminars will run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with a catered lunch. Please note all seminars will begin at 8:30 a.m. sharp. There will be two identical sessions conducted. The morning session runs from 8:30 a.m. to noon and will be presented in English while the afternoon session will be the same in content but will be presented in Spanish.
Those attending the afternoon session are encouraged to show up at 11:45 a.m. to eat lunch. The morning session attendees will eat once their session concludes and will be free to go after lunch.
The Texas Cotton Ginners’ Trust manager session begins at 1 p.m. Remember, TCGT staff conducts manager meetings following each TCGA district meeting as well. The Texas Cotton Ginners’ Trust is the sole sponsor of the 2023 safety seminars.
The goal of the seminars is to go through the ginning process from picking up the module to hauling the finished bale off the yard. Throughout the entire presentation, participants will hear about some of the different accidents that happened during the past ginning season.
If you have questions about the upcoming safety seminars, please contact Aaron Nelsen at aaron@tcga.org or 512-476-8388 at the TCGA office.
Congratulations To The 2023 First Bale Of Cotton
Wesley Vanderpool (right) harvested this year’s first bale of cotton — a Stoneville 4990B3XFvariety — near Alamo, Texas. Pictured alongside Wesley is his partner, Verne Vanderpool.
Alamo, Texas, is once again home to the first bale of the 2023 cotton season. Wesley Vanderpool, who also had the first bale in 2022, harvested on Tuesday, June 20, after planting Stoneville variety 4990B3XF Feb. 7. Vanderpool’s harvested bale was then ginned at Willacy Co-Op Gin in Sebastian, Texas.
For the past 10 years, first harvest bales have come from BASF cottonseed varieties. This bale will be auctioned off at the annual First Bale of Cotton Auction and Scholarship Fundraiser happening on Sept. 14 in Harlingen, Texas.