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Farm Bureau Entrepreneur finalists announced

Four finalists have been named in the 2016 Farm Bureau Rural Entrepreneurship Challenge.

Michigan finalist Julie Baker from the Fedora Malthouse tells Brownfield agriculture is a difficult business to break into and the competition is helping make it a possibility.

“It’s almost cost prohibitive so the fact they’re really getting people started at a young age and really looking at ag as a viable way to have a career, I think is just fascistic.”

This is the second year the American Farm Bureau has offered the challenge as an opportunity for individuals or businesses in rural areas to be recognized for their innovative food or agricultural related businesses. Each of the four were awarded $15,000 and will compete for the Rural Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the AFBF Convention and IDEAg Trade Show in January.

 

The four finalists include:

AccuGrain of Rose Hill, Iowa, as an ag tech entry of X-ray technology to inventory flowing grain in real time.

AgriSync of Dallas Center, Iowa, as an ag tech entry on mobile customer support platforms for farmers.

Farm Specific Technology of Bolivar, Tennessee, an ag tech entry with a no-till crimper for cover crop production

Fedora Malthouse from the Village of Shepherd, Michigan, with a value processing entry for malted barley production for the craft beer industry.

The national winner will receive an additional $15,000. A People’s Choice Award will also awarded $10,000 during the convention to implement business ideas.

 

Six semi-finalists were also awarded $10,000, including:

Cherry Brother Designs, LLC. of Shelby, Indiana

Kolb Farms of Cleveland, Wisconsin

Lilac Hedge Farm of Berlin, Massachusetts

Pumpkin Vine Creek, LLC. of Paint Lick, Kentucky

Smiling Hara, LLC. Of Mars Hill North Carolina

Strategic Management of Agricultural Related Technologies, S.M.A.R.T. of Oakland, Nebraska