Kelli Merritt's - Texas Tech University

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Larry Combest Endowed Chair in Agricultur al Competitiveness
which she did. She also went on to receive her
graduate degree in education for the visually
impaired.
After graduating college, Merritt returned
to live on the Youngblood farm and
ranch. She worked as an itinerate teacher,
traveling to local West Texas schools providing
advice, resources, and support to visually
impaired children and their teachers. Although
her teaching kept her busy, she always
helped with the crops and cattle. Merritt
said that as she learned more about farming,
she also began to learn more about cotton
marketing.
“I always liked farming,” Merritt said,
“but as I got more involved in the business, I
realized I really loved marketing.”
After several years of hedging for her
family farm, Merritt decided to become a
licensed commodity broker. She teamed up
with Angie Goodman, who had worked as
CEO of an international cotton marketing firm
for over 12 years, to form CropMark Direct.
Merritt said her goal when starting CropMark
Direct was to create a farmer friendly company
that would work hard to help growers
receive maximum profits for their high-quality
crops.
“Texas had not traditionally grown
high quality cotton.” Merritt said, “So when
we began growing premium upland cotton,
it seemed an appropriate time to develop a
niche market to promote the progress Texas
has made in the quality of its cotton.”
While CropMark Direct does buy and
sell all varieties of cotton, the company spewww.aaec.ttu.edu/acc