Awards Program Re-envisioned Beginning in 2026
COLUMBIA, Tenn. — The Tennessee Farmer of the Year program has been revamped. A team effort by the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture and Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation, the program will honor the state’s rich agricultural history across all three regions of Tennessee while recognizing the state’s top farmers.
From 1990 through 2024, UT Extension was honored to support Tennessee farmers through a regional farmer-of-the-year competition. Beginning in 2026, the Tennessee Farmer of the Year program will be elevated and celebrated here at home. Tennessee Farm Bureau and UT Extension have collaborated to recognize outstanding producers from East, Middle and West Tennessee, honoring their leadership, innovation and contributions to our state’s agricultural prominence. From these regional honorees, one exemplary producer will be named the Tennessee Farmer of the Year.
Justin Rhinehart, dean of UT Extension says, “The Tennessee Farmer of the Year program will honor the hard work and dedication of Tennessee’s top producers and top industry: agriculture. All across the state, everywhere you look, you can see Tennessee farms committed to excellence in agriculture, and UT Extension is proud to support their efforts with educational resources that assist them as they make sound farm management decisions that support their families, communities, our environment and our state.”
Eric Mayberry, president of the Tennessee Farm Bureau, and a third-generation farmer from Humphreys County, adds, “We hope the rebranding and refocus of this program will elevate farmers across the Volunteer State in a new and exciting way. As fewer folks are involved in this industry, the importance of recognizing what farmers do each and every day in providing food, fiber and fuel for the world becomes that much greater. We’re proud to partner with UTIA in this endeavor and look forward to how this program will showcase Tennessee’s top and most important industry.”
Three regional finalists will be selected from among the applicants. Due to the gracious sponsorship of Can-Am and Ford at BlueOval City, two regional finalists will each be awarded a cash prize of $5,000 and the remaining finalist will be named the Tennessee Farmer of the Year. The Tennessee Farmer of the Year will receive a Can-Am Defender HD11 XT CAB (value of $30,000) and an all-expense-paid trip for two to the America Farm Bureau Convention in January 2027. All finalists will be recognized and expected to attend the awards ceremony scheduled for June 13, 2026, in Franklin, Tennessee.
Applications to be named Tennessee Farmer of the Year are now open and must be submitted no later than March 1, 2026. Forms and complete details are available online at the website tnfarmbureau.org/tennessee-farmer-of-the-year.
Applicants must be at least 21 years old and must claim a crop, livestock or production enterprise constituting a full-time farm operation as their primary source of income. Regional finalists will be selected following the close of nominations. The overall state winner will be named following farm visits by a steering committee of UTIA and Farm Bureau representatives, as well as representatives from affiliated agencies including Tennessee State University and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.
The Tennessee Farmer of the Year is expected to make a number appearances at various agricultural events, including the Tennessee State Fair, UT Institute of Agriculture’s annual Ag Day celebration, Tennessee Farm Bureau Annual Meeting and more.
About the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture
The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture is comprised of the Herbert College of Agriculture, UT College of Veterinary Medicine, UT AgResearch and UT Extension. Through its land-grant mission of research, teaching and extension, the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. to Tennesseans and beyond. utia.tennessee.edu.
About the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation
The Tennessee Farm Bureau has a membership of more than 690,000 family members and is the largest state Farm Bureau in the nation. The mission is to develop, foster, promote and protect programs for the general welfare, including economic, social, educational and political well-being of farm people of the great state of Tennessee. tnfarmbureau.org