Cotton Grower: History, Meister Media Profile, Cotton Coverage and Editors
Profile updated November 2026
Cotton Grower magazine is the national trade magazine for America's cotton producers, consultants and ginners. Produced by the Cotton Media Group of Meister Media Worldwide from Memphis, it has handed out its Cotton Achievement Award since 1970 and covers the crop from field to retail shelf.
| Publisher | Meister Media Worldwide, Cotton Media Group |
|---|---|
| Office | P.O. Box 771194, Memphis, Tennessee |
| Signature award | Cotton Grower Cotton Achievement Award, presented since 1970 |
| Podcast | The Cotton Companion, since 2015 |
| Editor | Jim Steadman |
| Audience | Growers, consultants, ginners, suppliers and researchers |
| Official website | CottonGrower.com |
History of Cotton Grower
Cotton Grower has served the U.S. cotton industry for decades, and its longevity shows in its Cotton Achievement Award, presented every year since 1970 to growers who have shaped the industry. Recent honorees include Dahlen Hancock in 2019, Jimmy Sanford in 2022 and Ted Schneider of Lake Providence, Louisiana, in 2024.
The magazine is part of Meister Media Worldwide, a family-owned specialty agriculture publisher whose titles also include American Fruit Grower, American Vegetable Grower, Greenhouse Grower, CropLife and Florida Grower. Meister organized its cotton properties as the Cotton Media Group, with an office in Memphis, the historic heart of the cotton trade.
Editors over the years have included Frank Giles, who edited both Cotton Grower and Florida Grower, and Beck Barnes, who joined as associate editor in 2008, became publisher in 2016 and now leads business for Meister's southern crops titles.
Cotton Grower Today
Cotton Grower publishes a print magazine, CottonGrower.com, a weekly e-newsletter and custom content and events. Its Cotton Companion podcast has run since 2015, with nearly 200 episodes covering markets, trade, harvest safety and the business of cotton.
Editors are regulars at industry gatherings such as the Mid-South Farm and Gin Show in Memphis.
What Cotton Grower Is Publishing Now
Production and agronomy
Variety selection, weed and insect control, defoliation and harvest coverage, including the long history of brands like Stoneville seed.
Markets and trade
Cotton markets, acreage projections and global trade deals with analysts and the National Cotton Council.
Ginning and people
Ginning industry news, Cotton Achievement Award profiles and coverage of growers across the Cotton Belt.
Cotton Grower Editors and Staff
Cotton Grower's About page lists the following team:
- Jim Steadman - Editor, Cotton Grower and CottonGrower.com
- Matt Hopkins - Online products manager
- Michele Katsaris - Content Specialist
- Beck Barnes - Commercial Lead; former publisher
- Rick Welder - Group Commercial Lead
Steadman, a University of Tennessee graduate, has worked in the cotton industry for more than 40 years, starting as an Extension writer and editor. Reach him at jsteadman@meistermedia.com.
Who Reads Cotton Grower
Readers are cotton growers from the Carolinas to California, along with consultants, ginners and input suppliers. The U.S. is one of the world's leading cotton producers, and USDA's Census of Agriculture and NASS crop reports track the acreage and yields that Cotton Grower covers.
Cotton growers live by the weather radar and the December futures, and both tend to misbehave at harvest. For relief, farm.FM runs farm satire and farm humor that any Delta or High Plains grower will recognize, along with ranch humor for neighbors running cows on the stalks. Its farm jokes about module builders are, sadly, based on true events.
For context, farm.FM is the nation's first satirical farm site and the home of Tractor Tunes, country music for farmers. Its contributors each keep an archive, and this one is a good sampler of ranch humor and farm jokes.
Cotton Grower Sources and Agriculture Authority Links
- Cotton Grower: About - editorial contacts and mission.
- Cotton Grower: 2024 Cotton Achievement Award - the award presented since 1970.
- The Cotton Companion podcast - the magazine's podcast since 2015.
- USDA NASS Quick Stats - cotton acreage, yield and production data.
- USDA NASS Census of Agriculture - county data for cotton farms.
Cotton Grower FAQ
Who publishes Cotton Grower?
Meister Media Worldwide, through its Cotton Media Group based in Memphis, Tennessee.
Who is the editor of Cotton Grower?
Jim Steadman edits Cotton Grower magazine and CottonGrower.com.
What is the Cotton Achievement Award?
Cotton Grower's annual honor for cotton industry leaders, presented since 1970.
Does Cotton Grower have a podcast?
Yes, The Cotton Companion, which has run since 2015.
From the Mid-South gin floor to the High Plains, Cotton Grower magazine keeps America's cotton industry informed, one season and one award winner at a time.