SCA

The Southern Cotton Shippers Association was organized in 1916 by a group of shippers from the Mississippi Delta and the Memphis market for the purpose of establishing a permanent arbitration board in New England on which the shippers of cotton would have their own representative. The successful outcome of this endeavor blazed the trail for shipper representation on arbitration boards in this country and abroad. In 1926 the territory of the Southern Cotton Shippers Association was enlarged to include the entire states of Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

In 1955, the organization’s name was changed to “Southern Cotton Association”.

The objects and purposes of the Association were described in the Charter, as follows:

“The objects and purposes of said corporation are social and educational, to establish harmony and uniformity of trade customs and practices among its members and just and equitable principles in the cotton trade; to promote the general welfare of its members and others engaged in the cotton business, to decide and determine matters of difference among its members, and between its members and others, when submitted to it for arbitration; to gather, compile and disseminate information and statistics relating to matters of special interest to the cotton industry.”

In 1990 the Southern Cotton Association merged with the Arkansas-Missouri Cotton Trade Association, headquartered in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and the territory of the Southern Cotton Association was enlarged to also include the states of Arkansas and Missouri.

Through the American Cotton Shippers Association, the Southern Cotton Association is affiliated with the:

Atlantic Cotton Association, Memphis, Tennessee

Texas Cotton Association, Dallas, Texas

Western Cotton Shippers Association, Memphis, Tennessee

The combined memberships of all of the Affiliated Associations form the membership of the American Cotton Shippers Association.

SCA PRESIDENT

Keith Elzie

Keith Elzie currently works as a Merchant/Trader for ECOM USA, LLC. Following his graduation from Covington High School in May 1980, Keith started working in the cotton business for a small country buyer in Covington, Tennessee. Keith graduated from Memphis Cotton Exchange Cotton School in May 1982 and attended continuing education classes at Dyersburg State Community College and Memphis State University. Keith began his career on Front Street in 1987 and has worked in several segments of the cotton industry over the last 40+ years, including serving as Classing Director for the ACSA International Cotton Institute.

Keith currently resides in Covington, Tennessee with his wife Brenda, and they have two sons and one granddaughter

SCA Board of Directors

  • Keith Elzie, President, ECOM USA, LLC
  • Krista Rickman, Vice President, Cargill Cotton
  • H. Thomas Hayden, Jr., Immediate Past President, Louis Dreyfus Company
  • Meredith Abraham, Louis Dreyfus Company
  • Amy Bain, Louis Dreyfus Company
  • Darren Long, ECOM USA, LLC
  • Robin Pigot, Cargill Cotton
  • Bobby Walton, Walcot Trading Company LLC
  • Kathi Watters, Olam Agri Americas, Inc.
  • Neil Woods, Olam Agri Americas, Inc.

SCA MERCHANT MEMBERS

  • Cargill Cotton
  • COFCO Americas Resources Corp.
  • ECOM USA, LLC
  • Hang Tung Resources (USA) Co., Ltd.
  • Indigo Ag
  • Louis Dreyfus Company
  • Lyons Cotton, Inc.
  • MemTex Cotton Marketing LLC
  • Olam Agri Americas, Inc.
  • Toyo Cotton Company
  • Toyoshima International America, Inc.
  • Viterra USA Agriculture LLC

SCA PRIMARY BUYERS/MILL SERVICE AGENT MEMBERS

  • East Cotton Company
  • Farmers Cotton of LA LLC
  • Jabbour Cotton Company, LLC
  • Nunn Cotton Company, Inc.
  • Walcot Trading Company LLC
  • Wildwood Cotton Technologies

SCA ASSOCIATE MEMBERS

  • Cotecna Inspection, Inc.
  • Cotlook Limited
  • Cotton Grower
  • Dunavant Logistics Group, LLC
  • ICE Futures U.S., Inc.
  • IMC Companies, LLC
  • Intertek
  • Mallory Alexander International Logistics
  • Port of New Orleans
  • Sunbelt Warehouse Corporation, LLC
  • Unique Commodities
  • Wakefield Inspection Services, Inc.