Because of adverse market conditions, Texas South Plains cotton farmers may be the last to utilize all the marketing alternatives available to them. The combination of a wide and volatile basis with a highly unpredictable level of production results in an unfavorable atmosphere for utilizing the futures market as a pricing tool or even for gleaning from it the information it can provide. In-depth futures and options workshops have been well attended in the last five years but seem to leave producers a step away from having a strong practical understanding of the mechanics of the futures market. Twelve Extension sponsored marketing clubs in the Lubbock area have provided an excellent learning environment for cotton producers to take the step from classroom to actual participation.