The “American Idol” finale was a huge moment for the contestants and judges alike, but country singer Luke Bryan enjoyed another special moment before the big show. Bryan kicked off his sixteenth annual Farm Tour with three California shows, his first time bringing the tour to The Golden State. While playing a concert in Shafter, he received something very few other artists have received: a Buck Owens guitar.

In a TikTok video from the show, Bryan is clearly emotional when presented with the red, white, and blue signature Telecaster. Radio personalities from KUZZ, a Bakersfield country station, presented him with the guitar, noting that “less than ten artists have received this honor.” The presentation was part of an ongoing tradition, carried on by Owens’ family and KUZZ after he died in 2006. Owens was a country music legend known for popularizing the “Bakersfield sound” in the 1960s.

Farm Tours Celebrate Farming Communities Around the CountryGettyLuke Bryan performs onstage during The 58th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 20, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Bryan’s annual farm tours are about more than just playing music; they’re another way the singer gives back to local communities. In a comment the tour’s sponsor, Bayer, shared, Bryan described some of the motivation behind creating these special events:

“These nights are one-of-a-kind, and we really enjoy getting to know the farmers and their families, love the whole atmosphere of playing on these incredible fans and watching entire communities come together and get excited about these shows.”

In addition to bringing country music to farmers yearly, Bryan’s official website shared that the ‘Idol’ judge awards college scholarships to farming family students attending local universities. According to the website, the singer has given out 87 scholarships since his first Farm Tour in 2009.

In an Instagram photo carousel from his stops in California this year, Bryan shared fun pictures from the tour, including on-stage shots, him posing with his new telecaster, and donation check presentations for two California-based farms.

Bryan Will Visit More Farms in SeptemberGettyLuke Bryan performs onstage during the 2024 BMI Country Awards at BMI on November 19, 2024, in Nashville, Tennessee.

These California shows were a new milestone for the annual Farm Tour, but Bryan is just getting started for 2025. The singer has scheduled three more tour appearances for September, which will take him back to the Midwest. The official tour announcement lists a visit to Wisconsin’s Klondike Farms as his first September stop, and the tour will continue into Illinois and Michigan in the following days.

However, these limited appearances aren’t the only shows Bryan has scheduled this year. His “Country Song Came On” tour is headed to the Northeast at the end of May, with shows planned for New York and New Jersey venues. That tour will continue throughout the summer for fans across the U.S.