Ag Innovation Challenge
Entrepreneurs Needed to Rise to the Challenge
The Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge is a national business competition that showcases U.S. startups developing innovative solutions that address challenges facing America’s farmers, ranchers and rural communities. The Challenge was the first national business competition of its kind focused exclusively on rural entrepreneurs.
Now in their tenth year, the American Farm Bureau Federation in partnership with Farm Credit, are looking to identify the top entrepreneurs who are addressing both traditional challenges farmers face on their operation, such as access to labor, optimizing yield and reducing operating costs, to entrepreneurs who are addressing new challenges facing farmers and rural communities.
Farm Bureau will award $165,000 in startup funds to ten businesses, culminating at a live pitch competition and networking event at the AFBF Convention in January 2024 in Salt Lake City, UT. The Ag Innovation Challenge Winner will be awarded $50,000 in startup funds provided by our sponsors.
The future of agriculture will rely on innovative solutions to the challenges we face. The Ag Innovation Challenge helps entrepreneurs grow their ideas into products that support farmers and ranchers in their mission to provide the food, fuel and fiber we all rely on.
- Zippy Duvall, AFBF President
ANU
Scott Massey
Indiana Farm Bureau
https://www.growanu.com/
Barn Owl Precision Agriculture
Sarah Hinkley
Colorado Farm Bureau
http://www.barnowlag.com
ReproHealth Technologies
Jim Donahue
Indiana Farm Bureau
www.reprohealthtech.com
Share Farm
Vincent Peak
Washington Farm Bureau
www.sharefarm.com
UAV-IQ Precision Agriculture
Andreas Neuman
California Farm Bureau
www.uaviq.com
Appanoose Manufactured Products
Mark Mendick
Iowa Farm Bureau
www.appanoosemfg.com
Idem Irrigation
Phil Holliday
Nebraska Farm Bureau
https://www.idemirrigation.com
Secret Garden Bees
James Hartman
North Carolina Farm Bureau
https://secretgardenbees.com
Smooth Ag
James River McTasney
Texas Farm Bureau
https://smoothag.com
Prizes
Farm Bureau will award $165,000 to ten businesses:
- $50,000 will be awarded to the 2024 Ag Innovation Challenge Winner
- $20,000 will be awarded to the 2024 Ag Innovation Challenge Runner-Up
- $15,000 will be awarded to two finalist teams
- $10,000 will be awarded to six semi-finalist teams
- Additional $5,000 to the People's Choice Team (chosen by public vote; all ten teams are eligible)
Program
Ten startup businesses, selected by Farm Bureau and the Farm Credit Rural Investment and Innovation Workgroup, will compete at the AFBF Convention in January 2024 as semi-finalists. These ten businesses will be awarded $10,000 each.
The ten semi-finalist teams will compete at the AFBF Convention on Friday, Jan. 19, to advance to the final round where the four finalist teams will receive an additional $5,000 for a total of $15,000. The final four teams will compete live in front of Farm Bureau members, investors and industry representatives to win:
- Ag Innovation Challenge Winner, for a total of $50,000
- Ag Innovation Challenge Runner-Up, for a total of $20,000
- People’s Choice Team, for an additional $5,000
The competition process has been great…the exposure, the relationships, the networking, has been wonderful. And we’ve gotten to meet a lot of great people who have only validated our idea and our business model.
— Will Walls, NORDEF
Terms and Conditions
Entrepreneurs must be Farm Bureau members to qualify as a top ten semi-finalist. Applicants who are not Farm Bureau members can join a state Farm Bureau of their choice. Visit fb.org/join to learn about becoming a member.
In Partnership with Farm Credit
Farm Credit supports rural communities and agriculture with reliable, consistent credit and financial services, today and tomorrow. Our nationwide network of customer-owned financial institutions provides loans and related financial services to U.S. farmers and ranchers, farmer-owned cooperatives, rural homebuyers, agribusinesses and rural infrastructure providers.
Providing much-needed capital to Rural Business Investment Companies (RBICs) and other rural entities, mentoring rural entrepreneurs and fostering innovation in rural America are other ways Farm Credit fulfills its mission to support vibrant rural communities. That is why Farm Credit is pleased to be the American Farm Bureau Federation’s premier partner on the Ag Innovation Challenge.
For more information, visit www.FarmCredit.com.
For More Information
Contact: aginnovation@fb.org
