Davon Cook

Davon Cook’s success working with family farms and agribusinesses is attributed to her diverse background and hands-on experience in agricultural settings. She understands the complexity of managing any small business, in particular family business operations. This ability to relate to, and provide structured and thoughtful guidance for agribusinesses challenges, is the spark behind her passion for professionally facilitating peer group programs.

Davon’s interest in family business is derived naturally from personal experience. She grew up near Lubbock, Texas, on a cotton farm (in which she is still involved as a shareholder) and was involved in her privately-owned cotton gin. After starting her career in Chicago at ConAgra Foods and McKinsey & Company, Davon returned to Texas in her late 20s to join the cotton gin business.

During those 10 years, Davon developed an understanding of the complexity of managing any small business, particularly one shared with family members. And through her daily interaction with 100+ farmer customers, she gained insight into what makes farmers successful. She understands the variety of skills needed to manage an ag operation, as well as the “softer” side of the equation in helping a family grow the enterprise as a team.

After selling the cotton gin, Davon has continued helping others build strong ag businesses as a consultant with family and closely held ag enterprises. Her consulting work also includes designing ag investment projects in Africa for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. She previously served corporate agribusiness clients as part of The Context Network. This global perspective on the industry brings useful context to production ag operations.