SWCA Officers 2010-2011

Dee Vaughan; Dumas, Texas — President — farms corn, cotton, sorghum, soybeans, and wheat in the Texas Panhandle near the community of Dumas. Dee and his wife Terri have continued the family operation (Dee's parents H.B. And Hazel are still involved) since 1978. Dee has served in a number of leadership capacities as a grower, including president of the National Corn Growers Association in 2003-2004. He is also involved locally, serving on agricultural advisory boards as well as the Dumas/Moore County Chamber of Commerce and other civic and church activities.

Mark Williams; Farwell, Texas — Vice-President — farms cotton, wheat, corn, sorghum in Parmer County, Texas near the town of Farwell. Mark and his wife Joyce have 3 sons and they too are each involved in the family enterprise. Mark has served in a number of leadership capacities, including Chairman of the National Cotton Council's American Cotton Producers, President of Plains Cotton Growers and the first president of the SWCA. He is also a local leader in Parmer County, serving in the Farm Bureau, as a Rotarian and as a member of a number of Boards and Committees.

Steve Verett; Lubbock, Texas Secretary-Treasurer — serves as the Executive Vice President for Plains Cotton Growers, Inc., a certified cotton producer organization representing cotton producers in the 41 counties around Lubbock. Before joining PCG in July of 1997, he served as the Executive Director for the Texas Food & Fibers Commission. Steve is an active member of the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce and served as Chairman of the Chamber in 2006. He remains actively involved with his son Kristofer, brother Eddie and nephew Heath in a 4000 acre farming operation in Crosby County.

Jimmy Clark; Lubbock, Texas Executive Director — is a familiar and respected force for Agriculture in the Southwest Region. Having served as district representative for Congressman Combest and as Deputy Chief of Staff for his successor Congressman Randy Neugebauer for 23 years, Jimmy understands the issues that are important to business and agriculture, and has dedicated a career to improving economic opportunity for the region. In addition to his life of public service, Jimmy has continued to build and improve a third generation family farming operation near Acuff, Texas.

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Board of Directors 2011-2012

RepresentingOrganization
Cotton
Mark Williams Plain Cotton Growers
Rickey Bearden Plains Cotton Growers
Steve Verett Plains Cotton Growers
Mark Wright Rolling Plains Cotton Growers Association
Matt Huie South Texas cotton and Grain Association
Corn

Dee Vaughan

Rick Palkowitsh

Corn Producers Association of Texas

Colorado Corn Growers Association

Grain Sorghum
Glenn Schur Texas Grain Sorghum Producers
Peanuts
Jimbo Grissom Western Peanut Growers Association
Wheat

David Cleavinger

Paul Fruendt

Texas Wheat Producers Association

Oklahoma Wheat Growers Association

Cattle
Ross Wilson Texas Cattle Feeders Association
Rice
L.G. Raun Texas Rice Producers
Agribusiness
Wally Darnielle Plains Cotton Cooperative Association
Chris Snodgrass B.E. Implement Co.
James Bostwick Ag50 New Mexico
Financial Institutions
Rick Boyd First United Bank
Mitchell Harris AgTexas Farm Credit Services

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Washington Team

The SWCA is represented in Washington by Combest, Sell & Associates, an experienced and effective team, led by:

Larry Combest, former Chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture and principal author of the 2002 Farm Bill.

Tom Sell, an attorney and former Deputy Staff Director of the House Agriculture Committee.

Jeff Harrison, an attorney and former Counsel to the House Agriculture Committee and former Senate staffer.

Hannah Lipps, Former Legislative Director and External Affairs Director for the National Sorghum Producers and the Sorghum Checkoff.

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