A story to tell...

Women from 14 states, from California to Texas to Alabama to New York, gather in Raleigh, N.C., for Cotton Incorporated's Women in Cotton tour. 

Joyce Braden, Midkiff, Texas, introduces herself at the opening supper held at Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley Hotel. Each guest was asked introduced themselves and give their connection to cotton.

Women in Cotton swag.

Women in Cotton head to Cotton Incorporated headquarters. 

Larry Hubbard, manager of fiber processing for Cotton Incorporated, far right, visits with guests about a sample of West Texas cotton. He says cleaning and aligning fibers without damaging the cotton is, "as much of an art as it is a science."

Larry Hubbard asks guests to feel the cleaned, "baby soft" cotton. 

A bale spotted at Cotton Incorporated from a Mesquite, NM, farm, ginned at Mesa Farmers Coop.

Roberta Smith, Cotton Incorporated's laboratory technician, answers questions for guests in the fiber lab. The lab tests up to 400 cotton samples a day.

Women in Cotton watch through the glass case as Cotton Incorporated's Jeanologia Flexi machine laser etches designs into cotton denim fabric. 

Through research and development, Cotton Incorporated is working on having more cotton in more products including this coffee cup held by Ellie Watson, Auburn, Ala. The cup, with the cotton seal imprint, is made out of cotton and corn. 

Carrie Yates, product development manager, left, says once yarn is made, it's time to make the fabric. Yates visits with guests about about the difference between knit fabrics, which are made up of loops to make items like t-shirts or sweaters, and woven fabrics, which are used to make boxers or jeans.

Bud Adams, knitting laboratory supervisor at Cotton Incorporated, far right, describes the double-knit machine used to make fabric for yoga pants and fitness wear.

Women in Cotton guests enjoy a steak and shrimp dinner and conversation at the Angus Barn Restaurant. 

Women in Cotton gather around owner and jean designer, Victor Lytvineko, center, at his Raleigh Denim Workshop. Lytvineko sells his jeans out of his store-front but also through high-end shops.

Women in Cotton tour Raleigh Denim Workshop, where patterns for the jeans are still hand-made. 

Emily Johnson, Tunica, Miss., gives an interview to a Raleigh, N.C., news station. The reporter asks if farming is a dying industry, to which Johnson replies, "There are many many farmers, women farmers, out there working to produce cotton, which is what we are here to celebrate, but also producing the food that we eat, the things we put on our bodies, on our plates, so people need to know this is not a dying industry. This is an exciting industry and it impacts everyone in America."

Artist Thomas Sayre visits with Women In Cotton outside his studio in downtown Raleigh, N.C. 

Artist Thomas Sayre tells guests the story behind the art, which is hanging behind him on the wall. Standing in an eastern North Carolina cotton field for hours, Sayre says he was inspired to create this cotton art made out of tar.

Thomas Sayre also creates castings of the bottom of work boots in muddy fields.