Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge Offers $145K in Startup Funds

The American Farm Bureau Federation, in partnership with Farm Credit, this week opened online applications for its 2019 Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge. Entrepreneurs will compete for $145,000 in startup funds. The competition provides an opportunity for individuals to showcase ideas and business innovations in agriculture. This is the fifth year of the Challenge, which is the first national business competition focused exclusively on rural entrepreneurs launching food and agriculture businesses. AFBF President Zippy Duvall says startup funds provided through the Challenge will help entrepreneurs working in food and agriculture take their businesses to the next level. Ten semifinalist teams will be announced on November. 9 and awarded $10,000. The final four teams, selected from the ten semifinalist teams, will be announced in December and will receive an additional $5,000 and have all expenses paid to compete in a live pitch competition at AFBF’s 100th Annual Convention in New Orleans in January 2019.  Entrepreneurs must be Farm Bureau members to compete.