Kary Robinson of Franklin County Wins State Young Farmers Honors

Kary Robinson of Franklin County is the 2026 Tennessee Young Farmer of the Year. The announcement was made during the Tennessee Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) Summer Conference at the Farm Bureau Expo Center in Lebanon.

As a second-generation farmer, Robinson farms alongside his parents, twin brother, sisters and sister-in-law on the family's diversified crop operation in Belvidere, Tenn. Since returning to the farm full time after graduating high school in 2011, he has helped expand the operation to nearly 4,600 acres. The family farm consists of corn, soybeans, cotton, wheat, oats and rye, in addition to a beef cattle herd and hay production. The family also operates a feed store, grain storage facility, trucking operation and other agricultural enterprises that strengthen the farm's long-term sustainability.

Raised on the farm, Robinson credits his upbringing with instilling the values of hard work, discipline and lifelong learning - values that have shaped both his farming career and his longstanding commitment to Farm Bureau. He's been involved in Farm Bureau since he could join the organization both serving on the local level and on the state YF&R committee. Currently, he serves as the Franklin County Farm Bureau president. He was also the second-place winner for this award in 2020 and 2022.

Robinson was named this year's winner based upon farm and financial records from 2025 as well as his leadership on the farm, in his community and in Farm Bureau. Robinson competed against 17 other county contestants to be named the 2026 Tennessee Young Farmer Achievement Award winner.

As state winner, Robinson receives a year's free use of a Case IH tractor up to 150 hours. He also receives $16,000 from Tennessee Farm Bureau, $1,000 in qualified Farm Bureau services, insurance on the tractor for one year provided by Farm Bureau Insurance of Tennessee, and a trip to the American Farm Bureau Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina in January 2027 where he will compete for national honors with other state winners.

Rob and Leah Holman of Obion County are the second-place winners in this year's competition. The couple farms on Rob's family's 180-year-old farm in Union City where they raise corn and soybeans on 2,400 acres. In addition, the Holmans diversified the operation in 2023 by starting a 4,800 wean-to-finish swine operation through Tosh Farms. The couple has been heavily involved in YF&R and Farm Bureau through the years, including Rob serving as state YF&R chairman and on the county board of directors. He has also served Obion County as a county commissioner for the past eight years.

As second-place winners, the Holmans receive a lease on a Kubota M series tractor, as well as the same trips and cash awards from Tennessee Farm Bureau and service companies.

The 2026 District Achievement Award winners are:

• District I - Rob and Leah Holman of Obion County. The couple farms on Rob's family's 180-year-old farm in Union City where they raise corn and soybeans on 2,400 acres. Rob has also served Obion County as a county commissioner for the past eight years.
• District II - Wilks Halliday of Maury County. Halliday farms with his father in the heart of Maury County. Together they raise row crops, cattle, hay and silage on 1700 acres.
• District III - Kary Robinson of Franklin County. Robinson farms with his family in Belvidere where they raise 4,600 acres of corn, soybeans, cotton, wheat, oats and rye, in addition to their beef cattle herd and their on-farm feed store. Kary also serves as the Franklin County Farm Bureau president.
• District IV - Adam Kemp of Smith County. Kemp farms on his family's operation in Pleasant Shade where they raise feeder calves, as well as have a commercial cow herd, plus produces around 1,000 rolls of hay each year.
• District V - Ryan Milhorn of Sullivan County. Milhorn is a third-generation cattle farmer. He raises Charolais cattle and hay in Bluff City.