Narrabri

Jess Lehmann

Jess Lehmann is a social media content maker, writer and ambassador for
regional Australia. She is also the Rural Room Community Development Manager.


Round Bale Cotton Picker — The Australian Cotton Industry is always on the forefront of new technology round bale pickers have significantly increased harvest efficiency for the industry.

Round Bale Cotton Picker — The Australian Cotton Industry is always on the forefront of new technology round bale pickers have significantly increased harvest efficiency for the industry.

The Rural Room Towns initiative presented the perfect opportunity to show one of the many talents of my local region — the Narrabri Shire, which is an area of rich agriculture heritage.

 
 
Jess and Michael Smith after a hard days work. Old school style picking still gets the job done.

Jess and Michael Smith after a hard days work. Old school style picking still gets the job done.

Cotton comes from the farm — my family farm, where my grandfather has been growing cotton for over 50 years!

Round Bale Cotton Picker — The Australian Cotton Industry is always on the forefront of new technology round bale pickers have significantly increased harvest efficiency for the industry.

I feel pretty lucky that I get to wake up every day on the farm with my family and have an office like this.

When I was 5 years old I grew my first cotton plant in a green house under the guidance of my father who was the very first independent cotton consultant in Australia. I’ve always had a love for Narrabri and The Australian Cotton Industry. From the small beginning here we are now producing 15 thousand bales of cotton each year. That’s 3.2 million pairs of jeans from our farm alone!

Maybe one day I’ll have children, and future generations, who’ll want to share this office. What better to wear something that has been created by nature to keep you warm and cool? I’d like to thank you all for buying clothes made from Australian Cotton, as it helps my family farm and others around Australia to clothe the growing population.

Cotton is not only the fabric of our lives, it supports communities, it creates jobs and is a part of my family history, which is why every time I put on a piece of cotton clothing, it’s almost like I’m putting on a piece of home that’s grown on my family farm.

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Jess checking cotton bolls to see what’s ready for defoliation

Jess checking cotton bolls to see what’s ready for defoliation

Jess’s Grandfather Vic Melbourne is one of the first pioneers to farm cotton in North West, NSW in the 1960s.

Jess’s Grandfather Vic Melbourne is one of the first pioneers to farm cotton in North West, NSW in the 1960s.

Mr Chris Lehmann, Jess’s father

Mr Chris Lehmann, Jess’s father

 
 
Jess & her grandfather enjoying a cup of tea around the family table on the farm

Jess & her grandfather enjoying a cup of tea around the family table on the farm