Are Your Dreams Up to the Challenge?
AGRICULTURE AND FOOD ENTREPRENEURS COMPETE FOR $145,000
Enter the Farm Bureau Rural Entrepreneurship Challenge TODAY! The Challenge is a national competition focused on entrepreneurs with food and agriculture businesses. Businesses across agriculture are eligible, including ag hardware and software businesses, marketing programs and field scouting. Learn more at StrongRuralAmerica.com/challenge. The application opens May 1, 2017 and closes June 30, 2017. 01_AGTech Services Card.indd 1
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ENTREPRENEURS COMPETE FOR: • $10,000 for Best Ag Tech & Support Service Startup • $145,000 in startup funds • Opportunity to pitch to multimillion dollar investors
Previous Challenge Contestants Grow Bioplastics is located in Knoxville, Tennessee. We produce biodegradable mulch films and containers out of waste products from the paper and biofuel industries. Our products resonate with farmers’ utmost respect and care for the land that is their lifeblood. ~ Tony Bova
GrainGoat is located in Venango, Nebraska. We developed a handheld grain combine that can harvest multiple varieties of grains and measure grain moisture in minutes. This product is the technological “Missing Link” between precision planting and rapid harvesting. ~ Martin Bremmer
Farmzie is located in Raleigh, North Carolina. We developed an online platform that connects rural farms to local and metropolitan markets. It also provides farmers with marketing tools, payment processing and easy reporting. ~ Griffe Youngleson
• Booth space at the American Farm Bureau® Annual Convention • Education on venture capital and expanding their businesses
ENTER THE CHALLENGE TODAY! The application opens May 1, 2017 and closes June 30, 2017 Learn more at StrongRuralAmerica.com/challenge
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3/15/17 2:08 PM
Are Your Dreams Up to the Challenge?
AGRICULTURE AND FOOD ENTREPRENEURS COMPETE FOR $145,000
Enter the Farm Bureau Rural Entrepreneurship Challenge TODAY! The Challenge is a national competition focused on entrepreneurs with food and agriculture businesses. Businesses across agriculture are eligible, including businesses that produce value-added products like cheese, sausage and ice cream. Learn more at StrongRuralAmerica.com/challenge. The application opens May 1, 2017 and closes June 30, 2017. 05_local product startup card.indd 1
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ENTREPRENEURS COMPETE FOR: • 10,000 for Best Local Product Startup • $145,000 in startup funds • Opportunity to pitch to multimillion dollar investors
Previous Challenge Contestants Smiling Hara Tempeh is located in Mars Hill, North Carolina. We manufacture soy and soy-free tempeh of the highest quality. We supply the food service industry and retail markets throughout the southeast. Our tempeh is an authentic, plant-based superprotein made from premium ingredients. ~ Chad Oliphant
White River Creamery is located in Elkins, Arkansas. We produce artisan cheeses from our own Nigerian Goat herd and local certified cow milk. We sell directly to customers as well as several grocery stores. We give tours of our sustainable dairy and creamery to school groups ranging from preschool to the university, as well as private tours. ~ Tessa McCormick
Wild Valley Farms is located in Croydon, Utah. We produce a water-wise fertilizer made out of sheep wool. To make this fertilizer we buy waste wool from sheep producers and pelletize the wool to make it more usable. In 2015, I bought about 15,000 lbs. of waste wool at more than double the price producers were getting for their waste wool. ~ Albert Wilde
• Booth space at the American Farm Bureau® Annual Convention • Education on venture capital and expanding their businesses
ENTER THE CHALLENGE TODAY! The application opens May 1, 2017 and closes June 30, 2017 Learn more at StrongRuralAmerica.com/challenge
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3/15/17 2:27 PM
Are Your Dreams Up to the Challenge?
AGRICULTURE AND FOOD ENTREPRENEURS COMPETE FOR $145,000
Enter the Farm Bureau Rural Entrepreneurship Challenge TODAY! The Challenge is a national competition focused on entrepreneurs with food and agriculture businesses. Businesses across agriculture are eligible, including farms, ranches, hydroponics facilities, aquaponics facilities and forestry ventures. Learn more at StrongRuralAmerica.com/challenge. The application opens May 1, 2017 and closes June 30, 2017. 03_Farm Startup Card.indd 1
3/15/17 2:20 PM
ENTREPRENEURS COMPETE FOR: • $10,000 for Best Farm Startup • $145,000 in startup funds • Opportunity to pitch to multimillion dollar investors
Previous Challenge Contestants Vertical Harvest Hydroponics is located in Anchorage, Alaska. We design and build turnkey, hydroponic vegetable production facilities inside of shipping containers engineered for artic climates. This system allows produce to be grown 365 days a year in remote, artic communities. ~ Linda Janes
Willow Hill Family Farm is located in Palmyra, Virginia. We raise pastured meats and eggs, as well as naturally grown vegetables, herbs, fruits, flowers, and hops. Our goal is to provide the most nutritious and sustainably raised food possible to our local community and our growing family. ~ Bryan Aycock
Lilac Hedge Farm is located in Berlin, Massachusetts. We have a pasture-based livestock operation. We raise and retail all our own meat through 10 weekly farmers markets, a 200 member meat CSA, and a year round store front in Boston selling fresh and frozen cuts and prepared meals. ~ Ryan MacKay
• Booth space at the American Farm Bureau® Annual Convention • Education on venture capital and expanding their businesses
ENTER THE CHALLENGE TODAY! The application opens May 1, 2017 and closes June 30, 2017 Learn more at StrongRuralAmerica.com/challenge
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3/15/17 2:20 PM
Are Your Dreams Up to the Challenge?
AGRICULTURE AND FOOD ENTREPRENEURS COMPETE FOR $145,000
Enter the Farm Bureau Rural Entrepreneurship Challenge TODAY! The Challenge is a national competition focused on entrepreneurs with food and agriculture businesses. Businesses across agriculture are eligible, including farm-to-school programs, farm stay programs and pumpkin festivals. Learn more at StrongRuralAmerica.com/challenge. The application opens May 1, 2017 and closes June 30, 2017. 02_Agritourism Card.indd 1
3/15/17 2:17 PM
ENTREPRENEURS COMPETE FOR: • $10,000 for Best Agritourism Startup • $145,000 in startup funds • Opportunity to pitch to multimillion dollar investors
Previous Challenge Contestants Gardens 4 Education is located in Hanford, California. We sell tomato garden kits to schools as a healthy alternative to cookie and candy fundraisers. We give the school a better deal, the consumer a better value and provide income for local farmers who grow the plants. ~ Jeannie Williams
Lavender Hills of Kentucky is located in Brooksville, Kentucky. We bring agriculture to the public through tourism, education, and locally-made lavender products. Visitors enjoy guided tours, workshops, cooking demonstrations, luncheons, and our on-site gift shop filled with lavender. ~ Denise Scaringi
Greene Fields Farm is located in Greenfield, Illinois. We bring the school to the farm. We offer an authentic educational farm experience. Our customers leave with more than a pumpkin but also an appreciation of how we farm and a desire to better understand agriculture ~ Christie Joehl
• Booth space at the American Farm Bureau® Annual Convention • Education on venture capital and expanding their businesses
ENTER THE CHALLENGE TODAY! The application opens May 1, 2017 and closes June 30, 2017 Learn more at StrongRuralAmerica.com/challenge
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