by Blair White

It’s no secret that Steve Verett changed the entire cotton industry during his career at Plains Cotton Growers. The leader added another feather to his cap when the National Cotton Council awarded him the Oscar Johnston Lifetime Achievement Award at its Annual Meeting in February.

According to the National Cotton Council, “The award is presented to an individual who serves the cotton industry through the NCC over a significant period of his or her active business career. The award also recognizes those who exert a positive influence on the industry and who demonstrate character and integrity as well as perseverance and maturation during that service.”

Verett is incredibly involved with NCC, serving on numerous boards and committees and in advisory capacities. He is a special advisor to NCC’s Conservation Task Force and a Cotton Leaf Roll Warf Virus Working Group member. Each level of his involvement greatly aided farmers economically, and his advocacy for favorable farm policy left a lasting impact on cotton growers nationwide. One of his most notable achievements was playing a critical role in returning cotton to Title 1 of the 2014 Farm Bill. He was also named one of the top 100 leaders in agriculture and rural communities nationwide by Farm Credit in 2017.

Verett retired as CEO of Plains Cotton Growers in 2021. He is still active in the cotton industry and has returned to the family farm in Crosby County. PCCA congratulates our friend Steve Verett on this well-deserved award.