Franklin County farmer Kary Robinson was awarded one year’s free use of a Kubota tractor in honor of taking home second-place honors in the Tennessee Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Achievement Award contest in 2022.

The results of that contest were announced last year during the Tennessee Young Farmers Summer Conference held at the Farm Bureau Expo Center in Lebanon where the diversified row crop and cattle farmer competed against 17 other contestants from across the state to be named the runner-up.

“I’m very honored to receive this tractor and look forward to putting it to use this year,” Robinson said. “Kubota is doing really good with their sponsorship in this organization, and I’m very thankful for them and the Farm Bureau. Both organizations are making a difference in the lives of many young farmers.”

Thanks to Brown Equipment in Loretto, Robinson recently received his award at a presentation on the family farm.

Local officials, county Farm Bureau members and many other community members gathered to celebrate the young farmer and his special recognition. Kubota representatives were also there to celebrate and present Robinson with the tractor, an M7-152K, which he can use for free for up to a year.

“We’re just trying to give back to the farming community,” Justin Ferguson, Kubota regional sales manager, said. “We know the future of farming is in our young people, and if we can partner with an organization like Young Famers & Ranchers, by doing that, we’re investing in the future.”

Robinson farms with his family in Belvidere where they raise 3,000 acres of corn, soybeans, wheat and oats in addition to their beef cattle herd.

He and his brother, Tracy, also started their own feed store where they bag and sell their grain as well as help their father, Mike, with his Farm King equipment dealership.

Growing up attending Farm Bureau meetings with his family since he was a child, Kary has been active in the Young Farmer and Rancher program for several years, winning the Environmental Stewardship state award in 2016 and also placing second for the achievement award in 2020.

He has also been involved with the Franklin County Farm Bureau, serving as a board member, as well as his church and local community.

In addition to the year’s free use of the Kubota tractor, Robinson also received $500 in qualified Farm Bureau services and $500 in services from Farmers Services.