NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Farming is a way of life in Tennessee passed down from generation to generation.

"The founders of our state, in 1786, understood that Tennessee was going to be a powerhouse for agriculture and forestry," Agriculture Commissioner Andy Holt told News 2.

Holt knows firsthand the challenges that farmers face — and his term as commissioner started Wednesday.

"As a first-generation farmer here in the state of Tennessee, I have been there. I have felt that desire — to become a part of the agricultural industry, and struggled with: how do I gain entry into this industry?" Holt said.

Farming supports thousands of jobs and shapes the state's economy and culture.

"The estimates that we've gotten from [the University of Tennessee] from 2024 estimate that agriculture and

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