Ms. Beverly Walker, Mr. David Parrish

Established by the family, friends, and the NC Cotton Producers Association to honor W.L. “Billy” Carter, Jr., this award honors students with a background in cotton. Mr. Carter grew up in the small farming community of Scotland Neck, NC. He had a strong work ethic, love of the land, and commitment to excellence. A leader in the cotton industry for more than 30 years, he was always willing to share his knowledge about production, marketing, and promotion. Billy and his wife, Beverly, grew cotton and other crops on the Carter Farms. He was named Cotton Producer of the Year for the Southeast in the 1990s and in 2002, he was named Executive Director of the NC Cotton Growers Association. He was involved in many other grower leadership positions and was a long-time member of cotton’s USDA Agricultural Trade Advisory Committee.