Knox Rogers attends the first Future Farmers Conference.
In the quiet hills of Taft, Tenn., where the soil runs deep with family tradition, a young agriculturist named Knox Rogers is planting more than crops — he’s planting a legacy.
Rogers grew up on the McAlister and Rogers Farm, a diversified operation nestled in the heart of Lincoln County. The farm buzzes with bees, hums with tractors and bursts with colors from squash blossoms to turnip greens. It’s here that Rogers first got dirt under his nails and fire in his heart for agriculture.
“I’m a sixth-generation farmer,” he says. “My family’s farm taught me how to work hard, be resourceful and appreciate the process of growing something from the ground up.”
It all began with a patch of land and a few rows of onions, cucumbers and sweet corn. Rogers, still just a kid, took the lead planting, harvesting, and selling his produce at the local farmer’s market and the family’s roadside stand. What started as a simple summer activity grew into a serious Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE).
Rogers works out in the field.
“I realized we were throwing away turnip greens when we harvested the roots for stores,” he says. “So, I decided to bag and sell the greens separately. That decision turned out to be one of my best. It taught me to look for opportunity, even in waste.”
Roger’s growth didn’t stop at the farm gate. He found an outlet for his passion and leadership in FFA, where he serves as vice president of strengthening agriculture in the Lincoln County FFA Chapter. His involvement in career and leadership development events (CDEs and LDEs) runs deep, with the extemporaneous public speaking LDE being his favorite.
“Public speaking scared me at first,” he says. “But it’s helped me more than I could have imagined. Whether I’m selling produce or pitching my firewood business, communication is everything.”
In February 2024, Rogers added another venture to his growing portfolio: a bagged firewood business. With the same grit that drove him in the fields, he began cutting, bagging and distributing firewood to local stores. He’s now in 12 retail locations, with a goal of reaching 25 by the end of 2025.
Each day brings something different and can include fixing equipment, leading work crews, planning crops, or delivering product. It’s all part of the entrepreneurial journey Rogers has embraced.
“FFA gave me the tools, but the farm gave me the foundation,” he says. “Everything I’ve done is rooted in those early lessons — leadership, service and the power of hard work.”
Rogers was recently recognized for his efforts, earning the Middle Region Proficiency Award for Vegetable Production. But for him, awards are just milestones on a much longer path.
“I don’t know exactly where life will take me,” he says, “I know I want to keep building — my businesses, my community and the next generation of agricultural leaders.”
