Kubota, Farmer Veteran Coalition recognize five farmer veterans through Geared to Give program
Kubota Tractor Corporation and the Farmer Veteran Coalition announced the recipients of the 2026 Geared to Give program, which provides equipment to military veterans pursuing careers in agriculture. Five farmer veterans were recognized during a pre-race ceremony before the NASCAR Cup Series race at NASCAR San Diego Weekend at Naval Base Coronado.
The 2026 recipients are:
- Keelan Brown, U.S. Navy veteran, Lawrenceburg, Tennessee
- Justin Butts, U.S. Navy veteran, Berne, New York
- Hudson Grigg, U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Hesperus, Colorado
- Jeff Morrison, U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Chaseburg, Wisconsin
- Joseph Santry, U.S. Army veteran, Columbia, California
“‘Geared to Give’ is about honoring veterans not only for their military service, but also for the meaningful impact they continue to make in their communities through agriculture,” said Alex Woods, president of Kubota Tractor Corporation and a veteran of the Army National Guard. “Bringing this year’s recipients to NASCAR San Diego Weekend at Naval Base Coronado created a powerful opportunity to recognize these farmer veterans in front of passionate fans and fellow Americans who value hard work, service and dedication. We are proud to support their next chapter with equipment that can help grow their operations for years to come.”
In addition to receiving equipment, the recipients and their guests attended NASCAR San Diego Weekend activities, including the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race and the NASCAR Cup Series race. They also participated in a meet-and-greet with Ross Chastain and the Trackhouse Racing team, toured the team’s garage and took part in a pre-race ceremony where they received ceremonial keys to their equipment.
“Farmer Veteran Coalition members bring unmatched resilience, leadership and determination to agriculture, and programs like ‘Geared to Give’ help provide the support needed to turn their goals into reality,” said Jeanette Lombardo, chief executive officer of the Farmer Veteran Coalition. “Kubota’s continued investment in veterans and rural communities has made a meaningful difference in the lives of so many of our members, and we are honored to continue this partnership together.”
The Geared to Give program received more than 700 applications through the Farmer Veteran Coalition’s Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund. One recipient was selected from each of Kubota’s five U.S. operating divisions.
Recipients and equipment awarded include:
- Southeast Division: Keelan Brown, owner of Farmer Brown’s Produce in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, received an L3902 compact tractor.
- Northern Division: Justin Butts, owner of Black Wind Farm in Berne, New York, received an SVL65-2 compact track loader.
- Central Division: Hudson Grigg, co-owner of Griggstead in Hesperus, Colorado, received an MX5400 utility tractor.
- Midwest Division: Jeff Morrison, co-owner of Bluff Country Ranch LLC in Chaseburg, Wisconsin, received an M7060 utility tractor.
- Western Division: Joseph Santry, co-owner of Sweet Water Farm & Ranch Co. in Columbia, California, received an RTV-X CREW utility vehicle.
Kubota announced a multi-year partnership with NASCAR earlier this year. NASCAR San Diego Weekend at Naval Base Coronado marked one of the first events under the partnership.
Kubota said it has provided more than $1.2 million to the Farmer Veteran Coalition since the Geared to Give program began in 2015, including organizational support, grants and 56 pieces of equipment for farmer veterans nationwide.
