Not every good business idea starts in a boardroom. Most of the time for farmers, good ideas start out in the field, solving problems that just won’t wait. Maybe it’s a better way to track equipment or a tool to save some time during harvest.

That spirit of innovation is what drives agriculture forward. And it’s exactly what we see year after year through the Ag Innovation Challenge.


Bringing ideas to life
Now in its 13th year, the Ag Innovation Challenge gives entre­preneurs a chance to showcase their innovative businesses that address challenges facing America’s farmers, ranchers and rural communities.

Every year, we see applicants from across the country working on solutions to real issues on the farm, whether it’s improving efficiency, lowering costs or helping farms run more smoothly.

Through the challenge, we don’t just recognize those ideas, we help move them forward. Thanks to support from our sponsors, we’re able to meaningfully invest and take these ideas further, including a grand prize of $100,000. The runner-up will be awarded $25,000, and two additional business owners who advance to the final four round will receive $10,000.

Just as important, these entrepreneurs gain exposure, feedback and connections that help them grow beyond the competition.

Making a difference
Each year, entrepreneurs from across the country step forward with ideas that could make a real difference for farmers and ranchers.

Through a competitive process, those ideas are evaluated by experts from across agriculture, helping narrow the field to a group of 10 semifinalists.

From there, the top teams continue to refine their ideas and advance to the final round at the American Farm Bureau Convention, where they take the stage to share their businesses with a judging panel in front of farmers, industry leaders and a live audience.

Four Iowa companies have won the contest over the years, and numerous others have been among the top 10 semi-finalists.


Applications open now
We’re now accepting applications for the 2027 Ag Innovation Challenge, and I’m looking forward to seeing what this next group of entrepreneurs brings to the table.

There’s no shortage of challenges in agriculture right now. But there’s also no shortage of people willing to step up and tackle them. If you’re developing something that can help farmers and rural communities, I encourage you to apply or pass along the word to someone who should. Because when we invest in innovation, we’re investing in the future of agriculture and the families who depend on it every day.

Eligibility guidelines and the competition timeline can be found at fb.org/challenge. Entrepreneurs must be members of a county Farm Bureau within their state of residence. The entry deadline is June 5.