For 29 years the Cotton and Rural History Micro 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 across Texas and the nation. They include the 1919 Longview Remembrance Project, University of Arkansas, Arkansas State University, Austin College, Baylor University, Burton Cotton Gin Museum, Collin College, the University of Central Oklahoma, Eastern Illinois University, East Texas A&M 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 – Kingsville, Texas Christian University, Texas Woman's University, Upshur County Court, and the Weslaco Bi-Cultural Museum.