Joseph Buckner Killebrew, a pioneering agricultural advocate in Tennessee, played a key role in promoting hemp as a valuable cash crop in the late 19th century. Recognizing the state’s favorable climate and soil conditions, Killebrew championed hemp cultivation as a profitable alternative for farmers. He emphasized the crop’s versatility, notin gits use in producing rope, textiles, and other essential products, which made it an attractive option for diversifying agriculture.