Robert Hill is the 2025 Tennessee Young Farmer of the Year. Robert farms alongside his dad, sister, and brother in-law in Lauderdale County. They farm around 5,000 acres of cotton, corn, and soybeans. On this episode Robert talks about why farming is more than just a job to him, and what is means to him to be named the young farmer of the year.

Gabe Harville of Smith County is  is the 2025 Tennessee 4-H Council President. On this episode of Root of The Matter Gabe talks about his 4-H career and the lasting impact it'll have on him as he heads off to college in the fall.

Obion County, Tennessee native Stephen Vaden is the newly sworn in U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture. Lee Maddox sits down with Vaden to talk about his journey to the number two position at USDA, and how he's bringing his Tennessee agriculture roots with him to make his focus American farmers.

One in seven people in the United States struggle with hunger. For decades Second Harvest Food Bank has been working in Middle Tennessee to help end hunger, and now they're getting help from local farmers through their Farm to Families program. On this episode Amy Beckham talks with Farm to Families coordinator, Jessie Lumpkins, about the program and how it's benefiting both people in need & farmers.

On this episode of Root of the Matter Dr. Bruno Pedreira talks with Lee Maddox about UT's Master Forage program & how he hopes it will help livestock producers across Tennessee better feed their animals.

Upper East Tennessee was devastated by the damage left behind from Hurricane Helene in the fall of 2024. Farmers in the area had structures, hay, and fields washed away from the flooding. The agriculture community came together to raise money to help farmers, raising money through the Tennessee Farm & Forest Families. That money was recently used to purchase seed to give to farmers so they can grow new grass and have a hay crop. Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation upper East Tennessee Field Service Director, Steven Huff, discusses how recovery in the area is going and how the seed given out is bringing hope to farmers

After serving as the interim for over a year, Dr. Justin Rhinehart has been named the permanent Dean of UT Extension. Rhinehart has been a part of the UT system for 15 years serving as a professor, beef cattle specialist, assistant dean of agriculture, and now dean of extension. On this episode of Root of The Matter Lee Maddox talks with Rhinehart about his career, what he hopes to accomplish in his new role, and why extension has such a vital role in agriculture and rural Tennessee as a whole.

Laura Purtle is the fifth Generation on her family's dairy farm, Cleburne Jersey Farm, in Spring Hill, TN. While many dairy farms have been forced to sell their herd and get out of the businesses, Purtle and her family have committed themselves to keeping their operation going. They consider their herd to be the oldest continuously milking jersey herd in the Nation. Their ancestors began milking in Tennessee when they immigrated here from Scotland in the 1800's. On this episode of Root of The Matter Laura talks about the importance of keeping their farm going, and how they've done that over the years by evolving and adding a creamery and farm store.

Memorial Day is a day we pause as a Nation to honor and remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice defending our freedom. Rory Williams is an Army Veteran who now farms in Marshall County. He helps remind us the importance of Memorial Day & how he's honoring those he served with and died in the line of duty.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brook Rollins recently halted all livestock imports across the border from Mexico into the United States due to a new world screwworm. This new screwworm has the potential to make livestock very sick and even kill them. Tennessee State Veterinarian, Samantha Beaty, talks about the screwworm and the efforts being done to keep it out of the U.S.