2002-2003 Cotton Leadership Class Chosen

MEMPHIS – The 2002-2003 cotton leadership class has been selected by the National Cotton Council’s Cotton Leadership Development Committee.

Members of the class, which is the 20^th since the program’s inception are: producers – Todd Isbell, Muscle Shoals, AL; George LaCour, Jr., Morganza, LA; Brian Vanderlick, Alexandria, LA; and Jack Seiler, Blythe, CA; ginner – Russ Kuhnhenn, Acme Gin Company, Buckeye, AZ; warehouseman – Dan Sullivan, Anderson Clayton/Queensland Cotton, Fresno, CA; merchant – Edward Clarke, Joseph Walker & Company, Columbia, SC; crusher – Tim Detamore, Producers Cooperative Oil Mill, Oklahoma City, OK; cooperative – Scott Stockton, Plains Cotton Cooperative Association, Lubbock, TX; and manufacturer – Vern Tyson, Jr., National Textiles LLC, Winston-Salem, NC.

During six weeks of activity across the Cotton Belt, class members will visit with industry leaders and observe production, processing and research. They also will meet with lawmakers and government agency representatives during a visit to Washington, DC. Among activities in their first session Sept. 9-13 in the Mid-South will be an orientation to the NCC and key industry issues, attendance at the NCC’s fall Board of Directors meeting, communications training and visits to farm and gin operations.