Kubota Tractor Corp. used one of NASCAR’s biggest weekends to recognize five military veterans who are building second careers in agriculture. During a special pre-race ceremony at NASCAR San Diego Weekend at Naval Base Coronado, the company presented five recipients of its annual Geared to Give program with ceremonial keys to new Kubota equipment. The awards are made in partnership with the Farmer Veteran Coalition and are designed to help veterans grow their farming operations. Enjoy a bunch of photos above and below, celebrating the event and winners. 

The five 2026 recipients

Keelan Brown

U.S. Navy veteran, Lawrenceburg, Tennessee — L3902 compact tractor

Southeast Division: Brown served more than 13 years in the U.S. Navy, including six deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Desert Storm. Keelan and his wife, Rachel, own and operate Farmer Brown’s Produce, a family-operated vegetable farm on 2 acres in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, that provides fresh produce through a Community Supported Agriculture Farm Shares program. Kubota awarded Brown an L3902 compact tractor from the L02 Series, which will be delivered and supported by Brown Equipment Company in Loretto, Tennessee.

Justin Butts

U.S. Navy veteran, Berne, New York — SVL65-2 compact track loader

Northern Division: Butts served four years in the U.S. Navy, including deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and operations off the Somali Coast. Justin owns and operates Black Wind Farm, a 104-acre regenerative farming operation in Berne, New York, focused on ecological restoration, heritage livestock, and strengthening local food systems. Kubota awarded Butts an SVL65-2 compact track loader, which will be delivered and supported by Towline Equipment Sales in Greenville, New York.

Hudson Grigg

U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Hesperus, Colorado — MX5400 utility tractor

Central Division: Grigg served four years in the U.S. Marine Corps with deployments to the Philippines, Oman, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Singapore, and Kuwait. Hudson and his wife, Samantha, own and operate Griggstead, a family- and veteran-owned, 15-acre homestead operating at 7,400 feet in Hesperus, Colorado, specializing in pasture-raised chicken, corn-, and soy-free eggs, heritage Navajo-Churro sheep, and a production-grade micro-hatchery focused on Standardbred poultry and specialty egg-color crosses. Kubota awarded Grigg an MX5400 utility tractor from the MX Series, which will be delivered and supported by Southwest Ag in Bayfield, Colorado.

Jeff Morrison

U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Chaseburg, Wisconsin — M7060 utility tractor

Midwest Division: Morrison served more than eight years in the U.S. Marine Corps, including one deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, a deployment to the Arabian Gulf with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and another to Japan and South Korea. Morrison and his wife, Hailey, own and operate Bluff Country Ranch LLC, a 119-acre diversified pasture-based livestock operation in Chaseburg, Wisconsin, raising cattle, goats, and pasture-raised eggs while also providing targeted grazing services. Kubota awarded Morrison an M7060 utility tractor from the M60 Series, which will be delivered and supported by Portland Implement in Cashton, Wisconsin.

Joseph Santry

U.S. Army veteran, Columbia, California — RTV-X CREW utility vehicle

Western Division: Santry served four years in the U.S. Army, including one deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Joseph, his father, and his brother Samuel, also a U.S. Army veteran, own and operate Sweet Water Farm & Ranch Co., a 30-acre regenerative, pasture-raised California Berkshire Hog farm in Columbia, California. Kubota awarded Santry an RTV-X CREW utility vehicle, which will be delivered and supported by Garton Tractor in Modesto, California.

Enjoy some photos!

Beyond receiving new equipment, the recipients enjoyed a full NASCAR experience. They met Ross Chastain and the Trackhouse Racing team (No. 1 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1). Chastain also prides himself as an eighth-generation watermelon farmer. Recipients also toured the race garage, attended cool NASCAR events, and were recognized before the NASCAR Cup Series race. Scroll through those photos above and below.

Photos and photo captions provided by Kubota.