For 28 years the Cotton and Rural History Conference has benefited from the generosity of notable historians presenting the latest fruit of their research in rural and/or cotton history. 

The Who’s Who of Cotton & Rural History keynoters include Gregg Andrews, Jacques D. Bagur, Bruce Baker, Sven Beckert, D. Clayton Brown, Walter Buenger, the late Robert A. Calvert, Jr., the late Randolph B. "Mike" Campbell, Gregg Cantrell, Edward Countryman, Light T. Cummins, James C. Giesen, Cherisse Jones-Branch, Blake Perkins, Ken Roberts, Jarod Roll, Rebecca Sharpless, the late James M. Smallwood, Andres Tijerina, Andrew Torget, Jeannie Whayne, Lee Winniford, Dan K. Utley and Nancy Beck Young.    

Presenters have represented colleges, universities, libraries and museums from across Texas and the nation and Europe including the University of Arkansas, Arkansas State University-Beebe,  Austin College, Baylor University, Burton Cotton Gin Museum, Collin College, the University of Central Oklahoma, Eastern Illinois University, Harvard University, Hill College, the Heritage Farmstead Museum, the University of Houston, the University of Illinois-Chicago,  A. C. McMillan African-American Museum, Mississippi State University, University of Newcastle (UK), New Mexico Junior College, the University of North Texas,  Oklahoma State University, Paris Junior College, Sam Houston State University, St. Edward's University, Southern Methodist University, Texas A&M University - College Station,  Texas A&M University - Commerce, Texas A&M University – Kingsville, Texas Christian University, Texas Woman's University and the Weslaco Bi-Cultural Museum.