Ag Innovation Challenge

Tim Hammerich

News Reporter

Applications for the 2023 American Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge are open until April 29th. The national business competition showcases U.S. startups developing innovative solutions that address challenges facing America’s farmers, ranchers and rural communities. Dusty Reynolds of Birds Eye Robotics, which was the runner up last year, says the contest offers many benefits.

Reynolds… “We looked at this as even if we walk away with $0, there's folks within those rooms, there's access to contacts, you're going to see a lot of people, you're going to rub shoulders with people who you never would have met. The cash is great, but honestly, it's the contacts, it's the relationships, it's the exposure that you're just not going to get if you hunker down in your office and just focus on your screen all day.”

Reynolds encourages all businesses to apply that have an innovative concept benefiting rural stakeholders.

Reynolds… “I don't understand why someone wouldn't do it to be frank. I think a lot of the eyeballs go to the cash, and that's certainly part of the equation, but the reality is most startups don't know what they're doing and they're operating with a lot of question marks. Going down and being humble with yourself, being humble with others, you get a lot of insight into the industry, you get access to contacts, maybe you get access to a bit of cash, and so I'd really encourage anyone just to take the time, submit a video, get your application in and go from there.”

That deadline is April 29th. Learn more at fb.org/challenge.