RUTLEDGE – Republican gubernatorial candidate and U.S. Rep. John Rose brought his Tennessee True Tour to Grainger County on Monday evening, meeting with residents at SunFresh Produce and sharing his vision for the state’s future.

The event drew a large crowd from across the region. Attendees gathered to hear Rose speak about issues ranging from agriculture and education to growth, infrastructure and public policy. The evening opened with prayer led by Terry Wolfe. The event was moderated by Deeann Stratton and Steve Longmire, owner of SunFresh Produce and host of the event.

Following the event, Rose and his wife, Chelsea, sat down for an exclusive interview with the Grainger County Journal.

When asked why he decided to run for governor, Rose pointed to concerns about Tennessee’s future and the challenges that accompany the state’s rapid growth.

“I feel like it’s a critical time for our state,” Rose said. “If we don’t have the right leadership now, we could wake up in a few years and Tennessee would not be the state that we all want today.”

Rose noted that Tennessee continues to attract hundreds of new residents each day while farmland across the state continues to disappear.

“Every hour we lose 10 acres of this beautiful farmland,” he said. “Obviously, in a place like Grainger County, that’s tragic because we know how beautiful East Tennessee is and how important our farms are.”

Rose said one of his goals would be finding ways to accommodate growth while preserving Tennessee’s rural character and agricultural heritage.

When asked about the biggest challenge facing Tennessee today, Rose pointed to education.

“I would probably put getting education right at the top of the list simply because it has so much impact on everything else,” he said.

Rose emphasized the importance of preparing students for both higher education and skilled trades careers. He said Tennessee must continue investing in opportunities that prepare young people for careers in agriculture, welding, electrical work and other essential industries.

The conversation then turned to school vouchers and school choice, a topic that has generated considerable discussion across Tennessee.

Rose said he supports giving parents options while also recognizing the importance of public schools.

“We want parents to have options,” Rose said. “But we can’t lose sight of the fact that 89 percent of our kids are going to graduate from a Tennessee public school.”

He added that public schools remain the foundation for educating most Tennessee students and said strong public education must remain a priority.

“If you elect me to be the next governor, you’ll have a commissioner of education who spent time teaching in a Tennessee public school classroom,” Rose said.

Another question submitted by local residents focused on medical and recreational marijuana.

Rose said he does not support legalization efforts and cited conversations with physicians, law enforcement officers and drug enforcement officials.

“Every doctor I talk to and every law enforcement officer I talk to tells me that medical marijuana is often proven to be a gateway to recreational marijuana,” Rose said.

He also referenced concerns surrounding substance abuse and addiction, saying Tennessee must continue addressing drugrelated issues affecting families across the state.

During the interview, Chelsea Rose spoke about her own agricultural background and involvement with Tennessee’s farming community.

A former executive director of the Tennessee FFA Foundation, Rose said agriculture remains close to her heart.

“I’m the wife of a farmer,” she said. “Any woman watching this that’s married to a farmer knows what that means. It means work.”

She said Tennessee agriculture remains one of the state’s greatest strengths and praised farming communities such as Grainger County.

As the interview concluded, Rose was asked what success would look like four years into a potential administration.

“I think it would be that everyone can say we’re being true to Tennessee,” Rose said. “We’re protecting the values that make Tennessee unique.”

He pointed to the state’s rural communities, hospitality and agricultural heritage as qualities worth preserving for future generations.

Rose also thanked Grainger County residents for their hospitality and encouraged voters to learn more about his campaign.

“It’s always a pleasure to be here,” he said. “The hospitality in this county is unmatched anywhere in Tennessee.”

The Tennessee True Tour stop provided local residents an opportunity to hear directly from Rose and ask questions about issues important to Grainger County and the state as a whole. The event was one of several stops Rose is making across Tennessee as he seeks the governor’s office in 2026.