Ag Innovation Challenge Finalists Compete for $100K

Four start-up companies offering agricultural innovations have advanced to compete for a top prize of $100,000 in the 2026 Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge. The American Farm Bureau Federation, in partnership with Farm Credit, continues to elevate the importance of entrepreneurship in agriculture through the contest.

"It's an honor to spotlight the final four teams in the Ag Innovation Challenge," said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. "This competition empowers entrepreneurs to transform bold ideas into real-world solutions that strengthen the work of farmers and ranchers as they provide the food, fuel and fiber we all rely on."

This is the 12th year of the Ag Innovation Challenge, which was the first national business competition focused exclusively on rural entrepreneurs launching agriculture- and food-related businesses. Farm Bureau is offering $145,000 in start-up funds throughout the course of the competition.

Ten semi-finalist teams participated in a virtual pitch round earlier this week with three judges representing various sectors of the agricultural supply chain. The four finalist teams advancing to the final round each received an initial prize of $10,000 and are listed below.

• CryoBio, New York
• FarmSmarter.ai, Louisiana
• KiposTech, Pennsylvania
• Vivid Machines, Washington

The finalist teams will compete at the AFBF Convention on Sunday, Jan. 11, in front of a live audience of Farm Bureau members, investors and industry representatives, competing for top titles and prizes:

• Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge Winner, total of $100,000
• Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge Runner-up, total of $25,000

Farm Bureau recognizes and supports these rural businesses with generous funding provided by sponsors Farm Credit, Bayer Crop Science, John Deere, Farm Bureau Bank, Farm Bureau Financial Services and T-Mobile.

To learn more about the Challenge visit fb.org/challenge.

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