Andy Holt

Two Monroe County women were arrested for allegedly stealing a $5,000 Appaloosa horse in June 2026, selling it online, and later recovering the animal and returned it to its owner. Shaleah Leann Peels and Kyleigh Marie Shell faced felony theft charges after law enforcement, including the Tennessee Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Crime Unit, secured their arrest and returned the horse and purchase money to victims.

Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Andy Holt is accused in a lawsuit of pressuring the Tennessee Farm Bureau to cut ties with insurance agent Bryant Rhodes following a personal dispute. The lawsuit claims Holt used his influence to force the Farm Bureau to terminate Rhodes after an altercation at a land auction.

Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Andy Holt is accused of pressuring Farm Bureau to endorse Sen. Marsha Blackburn for governor. A former Farm Bureau insurance agent, Bryan Rhodes, filed a lawsuit alleging Holt engaged in fraudulent conduct and pressured the organization to terminate his employment. Rhodes also claims Farm Bureau fired him to avoid upsetting Holt over not endorsing Blackburn.

Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Andy Holt faces a lawsuit alleging he pressured the Tennessee Farm Bureau to endorse Marsha Blackburn for governor by fabricating claims about a 2026 auction where he served as auctioneer. The lawsuit, filed by former Farm Bureau Insurance agent Bryant Rhodes, accuses Holt of unethical conduct during the auction and using his position to retaliate against Rhodes and the Farm Bureau for not supporting Blackburn.