By Justin Walker
Communications Specialist
Two Texas Farm Bureau members were among those re-appointed to the Cotton Board earlier this year.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the names of the re-appointed members of the board, as well as re-appointed and newly appointed alternate members, in November.
The Cotton Board serves as the administrative authority for the Cotton Research & Promotion Program and is responsible for leadership and economic oversight.
Julie Davis Holladay of Lubbock was re-appointed to her position by Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. Holladay, a Dawson County Farm Bureau member who occasionally grows peanuts, wheat and sorghum along with her cotton crop, said she is excited for the educational opportunity this presents.
Cotton growers can read about demand and trade policy all they want, Holladay said, but they don’t always see the behind the scenes work that goes on.
“It’s that exposure to the importers and learning from them that I find very interesting,” she said. “It helps me, as a producer, to talk to people who aren’t cotton producers or not involved in agriculture. It informs me of the way that I talk to them now about our fiber and our production methods.”
Howard County Farm Bureau member Randy Braden was also re-appointed to the board.
Jeffery T. Posey of Roby joins Holladay and Braden as another Texan among the eight re-appointed members. Three other Texans were announced as newly appointed alternate members: Steven D. Olsen of Plainview, Jason S. French of Snyder and Brent J. Schniers of Wall.
Click here to see the full list of new and re-appointed Cotton Board members.
“The Cotton Board carries out research and promotional activities that help cotton compete in domestic and foreign markets, improve fiber quality and lower production costs,” Perdue said. “I want to thank these board members for the time and effort they have committed to serving the cotton industry.”
The appointees will serve three-year term beginning Jan. 1, 2019.