The members of Staplcotn and Stapldiscount elected two new directors on September 17, 2025, at the Annual Meeting which was held at Staplcotn’s corporate office in Greenwood, Mississippi. The two vacant positions on the board became available due to the retirement of two board members — Allen Whitehead of Ashburn, Georgia, in 2024 and John Willis from Brownsville, Tennessee, in 2025. Staplcotn’s new board members are James “Link” Carlton of Brownsville, Tennessee, and Joshua Brandon “Josh” Davis of Chipley, Florida. Both were elected for three-year terms.

Link Carlton’s farming operation, Carlton Farms, consists of cotton, soybeans, wheat and corn. Among other positions, Carlton serves as a director for Cotton, Inc. for Tennessee, is a member of the Haywood County Soil Conservation Board as well as the Tennessee Boll Weevil Eradication Committee and serves as a Haywood County Commissioner. When asked about being elected to Staplcotn’s board, Carlton commented that he was “honored to serve and happy to contribute to an organization with such a strong legacy in supporting our producers.” Carlton has been a Staplcotn member since 2000.

In addition to cotton, Josh Davis farms peanuts and raises cattle. He currently serves as a board member for both the Florida Cotton Growers Association and Southern Cotton Growers and as a ginner delegate for the National Cotton Council. Davis is also a member of the Florida Farm Bureau, the Florida Peanut Producers Association and the Florida Cotton Advisory Council. A Staplcotn member since 2004, Davis said he is “grateful for the opportunity to serve on the Staplcotn board and looks forward to contributing to this great cooperative.”