Entrepreneurs Encouraged to Apply for the 2026 Ag Innovation Challenge
TOPICS
Ag Innovation ChallengeChase Hieneman
Director, Industry Relations
Chad Smith
Associate News Service Editor, NAFB
photo credit: AFBF Photo
Chase Hieneman
Director, Industry Relations
Chad Smith
Associate News Service Editor, NAFB
Farm Bureau and several partner organizations are seeking competitors for the 2026 Ag Innovation Challenge. Chad Smith has details.
Smith: Applications are now open for the Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge, a national business competition showcasing agricultural-based entrepreneurs and startups. Chase Heineman, director of industry relations for the American Farm Bureau Federation, says they’re looking for any business solving a problem in farm country.
Heineman: American Farm Bureau's 2026 Ag Innovation Challenge is a national business pitch competition that seeks to elevate and support entrepreneurs from across the country who are developing solutions to the challenges that farmers and ranchers face every day. The Ag Innovation Challenge seeks to advance all types of innovation across all sectors of agriculture.
Smith: Heineman says the contest has a proven record of helping startups grow their business ideas.
Heineman: For example, after several years of development and initial sales, the 2022 Ag Innovation Challenge winner, Grain Weevil, is now planning on launching their grain bin safety and management robot later this fall, nationwide. Another previous winner, SwineTech, which is a developer of pig management products, including a piglet crushing-prevention technology, has secured dozens of patents and raised millions more.
Smith: Businesses see many rewards from participating in the competition, including significant funding for the top four teams.
Heineman: The biggest benefit of the program is the financing. The winner of the 2026 Ag Innovation Challenge will take home $100,000 in non-diluted funding. That's straight to their pocket. The runner up receives $25,000, and two other final four teams will both receive $10,000, so there's a lot of money at stake here.
Smith: Applications are open right now at fb.org/challenge. Chad Smith, Washington.
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