Opportunity abounds at 2026 Pick Tennessee Products Conference
Statewide event attracts record number of attendees
By Page Haynes
More than 1,000 participants attended the 2026 Pick Tennessee Products Conference in Lebanon in January, and about 75 exhibitors were on hand, representing businesses across Tennessee. The program included breakfast, a grand assembly, numerous breakout sessions, lunch, and keynote speakers.
Over three days in January, more than a thousand Tennessee farmers and ag industry professionals gathered for the 2026 Pick Tennessee Products Conference in an impressive display of solidarity and a sharing of ideas and inspiration.
The annual event was held January 15-17 in the Farm Bureau Exposition Center at the James E. Ward Agriculture Center in Lebanon. A record 1,018 attendees pre-registered for the event, sponsored in part by Tennessee Farmers Cooperative, with 74 exhibit partners representing businesses across Tennessee. The conference featured extensive networking, educational sessions, and showcased various Tennessee-made agricultural products.
Partnerships with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, UT Extension, and nine state producer associations worked together to hold the conference, which included educational workshops on topics like beekeeping, agritourism risk management, small fruit production, using drones in precision agriculture, and introduction to grants in agriculture.
On the opening day, Pick Tennessee Conference Director Zack Oxford welcomed the crowd, along with keynote speakers Commissioner Mark Ezell of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, Deputy Commissioner Ronnè Adkins with the Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation, and Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture Andy Holt. Holt encouraged first-time participants to feel right at home with their fellow Tennessee producers.
“If you’re new to the Pick Tennessee Products Conference, new to agriculture, or think you don’t have the pedigree or the heritage to be in this room, I want you to throw those feelings to the curb,” said Holt. “You are welcome here, and you are absolutely a vital part of this organization. We want you to experience these opportunities and learn how you can engage more deeply in agriculture.”
He acknowledged that he had experienced the same doubt when his wife, Ellie, told him that she wanted to be a stay-at-home mom and open a pumpkin patch to replace her income.
“I remember doubling over in laughter at the idea,” Holt said. “Now 17 years later, at our own personal operation in northwest Tennessee, agritourism is our largest profit center.”
The Introduction to Grants for Agriculture session by Rick Riddle was standing room only at the conference. He provided an overview of grant opportunities available to agricultural businesses, highlighting funding sources and eligibility requirements.
“This is the place where you begin that process of learning how to execute ideas and make the connections to start whatever industry you are passionate about,” he added. “Here we, as producers, share the knowledge and hardships that we endured and pass them on. There are a whole lot more friends in this room than there are competitors. As producers, you recognize that your outcomes can change from one year to the next. You can have the best crop you’ve ever had, and then the next season, it could be the worst. Let’s build a spirit of cooperation and partnership in every activity that we engage in over the next few days at this conference.”
On each of the three days, the program included breakfast, a grand assembly, numerous breakout sessions, lunch, and keynote speakers. The 2026 educational program included more than 120 sessions, with guests stemming from agritourism development, horticulture, livestock, marketing, digital tools, business planning, value-added processing, direct-to-consumer strategies, farm safety, veteran farmer support, specialty crops, and emerging market opportunities. Students involved in 4-H and FFA were also on hand to help and engage with participants.
Additionally, attendees had access to nearly 70 exhibit partners, offering products, services, tools, equipment, and innovations designed to support farm operations of all sizes.
“I’ve gotten a lot out of this conference,” says Hank Delvin, a fruit and vegetable grower who lives near Arrington and shops at Davidson Farmers Cooperative. “I really enjoyed learning more about organic pesticides to use on our operation.”
The purpose of the Pick Tennessee Products Conference is to connect, educate, and provide opportunities for Tennessee agricultural producers, including farmers, beekeepers, and horticulturists. Deputy Commissioner Ronnè Adkins from the Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation called it an event that “truly embodies the spirit of collaboration and innovation in Tennessee’s agricultural community.”
“It’s an event where producers, educators, and partners can grow, learn, and support each other as we continue in this wonderful field,” said Commissioner Adkins. “What makes Tennessee strong is the pride that people take in growing and passing things on. We know that vibrant agriculture and a healthy environment go hand in hand. Producers across this state are stewards of the land, and your work contributes not only to our economy but to the environmental quality of the place we call home. That’s why events like this conference matter. Pick Tennessee Products is about celebrating Tennessee’s producers, supporting local businesses, and making sure the next generation can continue this important work.”
Claire Hill, executive director of the Tennessee Farmers Cooperative Foundation, speaks with Henderson County producer Stacy Holk at the conference. Holk farms in Huron and is interested in selling her beef, eggs, and other goods directly from the farm.
Pick Tennessee Products, a Tennessee Department of Agriculture service operating for nearly 40 years, connects consumers to farms, farmers’ markets, artisan foods, and farm-related activities across the state. Supporting Tennessee’s producers, it offers consumers a diverse range of options for agricultural and forestry products, with approximately 2,800 participants.
Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture Andy Holt, left, and United States Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Stephen Vaden take a share their thoughts with the crowd during the Taste of Tennessee Reception.
By Page Haynes,
Contact phaynes@ourcoop.com