| 1938-47 | Oscar Johnston | Producer | Scott, MS |
| 1948-53 | Harold A. Young | Producer | North Little Rock, AR |
| 1954 | A. L. Durand | Crusher | Hobart, OK |
| 1955 | W. T. Wynn | Producer | Greenville, MS |
| 1956 | Francis J. Beatty | Warehouseman | Charlotte, NC |
| 1957 | George G. Chance | Producer | Bryan, TX |
| 1958 | Harry S. Baker | Ginner | Fresno, CA |
| 1959 | Boswell Stevens | Producer | Macon, MS |
| 1960 | J. Craig Smith | Manufacturer | Sylacauga, AL |
| 1961 | J. Clyde Wilson | Producer | Litchfield Park, AZ |
| 1962 | Burris C. Jackson | Merchant | Hillsboro, TX |
| 1963 | Robert R. Coker | Producer | Hartsville, SC |
| 1964 | Aubrey L. Lockett | Ginner | Vernon, TX |
| 1965 | G. C. Cortright Jr. | Producer | Rolling Fork, MS |
| 1966 | Norris C. Blackburn | Warehouseman | Memphis, TN |
| 1967 | Raymond E. Blair | Producer | Bakersfield, CA |
| 1968 | Roy B. Davis | Cooperative | Lubbock, TX |
| 1969 | J. E. Mayes | Producer | Mayesville, SC |
| 1970 | Bruce N. Lynn | Producer | Gilliam, LA |
| 1971 | Charles R. Sayre | Cooperative | Greenwood, MS |
| 1972 | Charles F. Youngker | Producer | Buckeye, AZ |
| 1973 | Mike Maros | Producer | Fabens, TX |
| 1974 | William E. Reid | Manufacturer | New York, NY |
| 1975 | C. L. Denton, Jr. | Producer | Tyronza, AR |
| 1976 | W. D. Lawson, III | Merchant | Gastonia, NC |
| 1977 | Jack G. Stone | Producer | Stratford, CA |
| 1978 | Lon Mann | Ginner | Marianna, AR |
| 1979 | C. Hoke Leggett | Producer | Hobgood, NC |
| 1980 | Herman A. Propst | Producer | Anson, TX |
| 1981 | Frank M. Mitchener, Jr. | Producer | Sumner, MS |
| 1982 | Edward Breihan | Cooperative | Lubbock, TX |
| 1983 | G. B. Brewer | Crusher | Fresno, CA |
| 1984 | John S. (Duke) Barr, III | Producer | Oak Ridge, LA |
| 1985 | Samuel B. Hollis | Warehouseman | Memphis, TN |
| 1986 | Lloyd E. Cline | Producer | Lamesa, TX |
| 1987 | Aven Whittington | Producer | Greenwood, MS |
| 1988 | W. B. Dunavant, Jr. | Merchant | Memphis, TN |
| 1989 | W. Bruce Heiden | Producer | Buckeye, AZ |
| 1990 | Tommy R. Funk | Producer | Harlingen, TX |
| 1991 | Jack McDonald | Crusher | Decatur, IL |
| 1992 | Jerry Calvani | Producer | Carlsbad, NM |
| 1993 | W. Neely Mallory | Warehouseman | Memphis, TN |
| 1994 | Bruce J. Brumfield | Producer | Inverness, MS |
| 1995 | James H. Sanford | Producer | Prattville, AL |
| 1996 | Thomas W. Smith | Cooperative | Bakersfield, CA |
| 1997 | William T. Lovelady | Producer | Tornillo, TX |
| 1998 | Jack S. Hamilton | Producer | Lake Providence, LA |
| 1999 | F. Ronald Rayner | Producer | Goodyear, AZ |
| 2000 | Robert E. McLendon | Producer | Leary, GA |
| 2001 | James E. Echols | Merchant | Memphis, TN |
| 2002 | Kenneth B. Hood | Producer | Gunnison, MS |
| 2003 | Robert W. Greene | Ginner | Courtland, AL |
| 2004 | Woody Anderson | Producer | Colorado City, TX |
| 2005 | Woods E. Eastland | Cooperative | Greenwood, MS |
| 2006 | Allen B. Helms, Jr. | Producer | Clarkedale, AR |
| 2007 | John E. Pucheu, Jr. | Producer | Tranquillity, CA |
| 2008 | Larry McClendon | Ginner | Marianna, AR |
| 2009 | Jon W. "Jay" Hardwick | Producer | Newellton, LA |
| 2010 | Eddie Smith | Producer | Floydada, TX |
| 2011 | Charles Parker | Producer | Senath, MO |
| 2012 | Chuck Coley | Producer | Vienna, GA |
| 2013 | James F. "Jimmy" Dodson | Producer | Robstown, TX |
| 2014 | Wallace L. "Wally" Darneille | Cooperative | Lubbock, TX |
| 2015 | Sledge Taylor | Producer | Como, MS |
| 2016 | Shane Stephens | Warehouseman | Greenwood, MS |
| 2017 | Ronnie Lee | Producer | Bronwood, GA |
| 2018 | Ron Craft | Ginner | Plains, TX |
| 2019 | Mike Tate | Producer | Meridianville, AL |
| 2020 | Kent Fountain | Ginner | Surrency, GA |
| 2021 | Kent Fountain | Ginner | Surrency, GA |
| 2022 | Ted Schneider | Producer | Lake Providence, LA |
| 2023 | Shawn L. Holladay | Producer | Lubbock, TX |
In 2000, the Council's bylaws were amended to change the chief elected industry officer title from "President" to "Chairman".