Photo credit: Chrissy Jenkins

Eighth-generation farmer Chrissy Jenkins grew up working on her family’s farm in Lafayette, Tennessee, where they raised cattle and grew tobacco, corn and soybeans. And while she now takes on even more roles off the farm as both a mom and builder with a passion for home design, Jenkins has always felt connected to the farming lifestyle.

“I love to see things grow, whether it be my children, animals or crops,” Jenkins says. “And I always loved cotton, so I decided to give it a go.”

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Even though cotton hadn’t been grown in her area for over 50 years, she decided to try her luck and found success with her first cotton crop in 2017.

“With my tobacco-growing experience, I thought, ‘Well, I’ll cut it like we do tobacco.’ So I did! We cut 12 plants per bundle and tied them with baler twine.”

Today, Jenkins sells her cotton by the bundle for home decor purposes. She also offers tips and ideas for decorating with cotton, using her own crop to create everything from bouquets and arrangements with flowers to wreaths for all seasons. She also participates in the Boll Weevil Eradication Program as part of a nationwide effort to rid the cotton belt of the most costly insect in the history of American agriculture.

To learn more about Jenkins’ business, purchase cotton or get inspired with creative cotton design ideas for your own home, follow her on Instagram @cayd_colt or reach out on Facebook at facebook.com/chrissy.r.jenkins.

See more: Make Your Decorative Gourds Last Longer in 5 Easy Steps