MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Nathan Reed, a Marianna, Ark., producer, who previously served as National Cotton Council (NCC) vice chairman, was elected NCC chairman for 2026 during the organization’s annual meeting in San Antonio, Texas.
Hank Reichle, a cooperative delegate and President/CEO of Staplcotn, will serve as NCC vice chairman for 2026.
Reed has served as an NCC director and on multiple NCC committees, as well as serving as the American Cotton Producers chairman.
A fourth-generation farmer on the family’s Arkansas Delta operation, Reed and his wife, Kristin, have a diversified corn, cotton, milo, and soybean operation with their four children. Before returning home to farm full-time in 2005, Nathan obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in ag business and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Arkansas School of Law. Reed implements conservation and efficiency practices on the farm, including global positioning satellite technology and precision agriculture to optimize the use and placement of nutrients and water. He has increased the use of cover crops to protect the soil and prevent erosion. His responsible practices are verified through his participation in the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol.
“As a farmer from Marianna, Arkansas, Nathan Reed understands firsthand what it takes to sustain a strong and competitive agricultural operation,” said Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee. “He brings a proven record of leadership and a deep understanding of both the challenges and opportunities facing America’s cotton growers to the National Cotton Council as chairman.”
“I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside him on behalf of Natural State farmers and know firsthand he is a trusted and well-respected voice for producers, a wealth of knowledge on farming issues and deeply committed to agriculture and the rural communities that depend on it,” Boozman continued. “The National Cotton Council plays a vital role in advocating for farmers, ginners, merchants and all those who depend on a strong cotton industry. I am confident that under Nathan’s guidance it will continue to deliver results for the industry. I look forward to working with Nathan and the Council to advance policies that strengthen agriculture and support our farmers.”
In addition to his NCC service, Reed is a former president of the Agricultural Council of Arkansas and serves on the Lee County Farm Bureau Board of Directors and the Arkansas Agriculture Council Board of Directors. He has previously served on the Dean’s Advisory Committee for the University of Arkansas Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, and as vice chairman of the Arkansas Cotton State Support Committee.
Re-elected as NCC vice presidents were David Blakemore, a ginner from White Oak, Mo.; Joe Tillman, a warehouser from Oakland, Tennessee; Sammy Wright, a cottonseed processor from Tifton, Ga.; and Mike Quinn, a manufacturer from Sanford, N.C. Re-elected as secretary-treasurer is Mark McKean, a producer from Riverdale, California.
Elected as NCC vice presidents was Jeff Johnson, a Memphis, Tenn., merchant; and Frederick Barrier, a Greenwood, Miss., cooperative official.
Re-elected as NCC staff officers were Gary Adams, president and chief executive officer; Marjory Walker, vice president, operations; Jody Campiche, vice president, economics and policy analysis; John Gibson, vice president, member services; Tas Smith, vice president, producer affairs; Harrison Ashley, vice president, ginner services; Chad Brewer, vice president, technical services; and Robbie Minnich, vice president, Washington operations.
