The final four teams in the 2026 Ag Innovation Challenge will go head-to-head in front of a live audience of Farm Bureau members, investors and industry representatives on Jan. 12 at the 2026 American Farm Bureau Convention in Anaheim, California.

Now in its 12th year, the Challenge, offered by AFBF in partnership with Farm Credit, is an opportunity for entrepreneurs to pitch their emerging ideas and businesses in the agricultural industry.

Final Four Challengers

The final four were selected from 10 semifinalist teams that participated in a virtual pitch first round. At the AFBF Convention, they have a chance to be the Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge Winner, which comes with a prize totaling $100,000, or the Challenge Runner-Up, which comes with a prize totaling $25,000.

Learn more below about the businesses that will compete in the live pitching session next month.

CryoBio

New York

CryoBio is developing biotech solutions to enhance food production at the farm level and minimize food waste throughout the supply chain, with an immediate focus on tackling one of agriculture’s most overlooked threats: frost. CryoBio’s plant- and food-safe formula, applied before the damage occurs, is inspired by organisms that survive freezing temperatures, reinforces natural defenses and protects yields when frost strikes. CryoBio’s unique solution utilizes natural biomolecules that lower the freezing temperature of water both inside and outside crops by up to 14°F.

FarmSmarter.ai

Louisiana

FarmSmarter.ai is the world's first agricultural intelligence platform that unites in one place agricultural workflows, including field notes, GIS management, regulatory compliance, financial tracking and real-time agronomic insights. Powered by the company’s proprietary Ag Intelligence Engine, Farmer AI, the platform’s conversational assistant, can help growers and consultants increase yields, quickly find the information they need, streamline GIS field management, cut costly mistakes, save time and easily stay compliant with various regulations.

The platform fuses real-time data and insights from across the agricultural ecosystem, including the latest research from Extension services nationwide, all 16,000 EPA-approved pesticide and herbicide labels, GIS field boundaries, expert analysis of soil and tissue test reports, hyper-local weather data and farm-specific notes.

KiposTech

Pennsylvania

KiposTech is revolutionizing poultry farming with plasma-based air disinfection and AI-powered monitoring solutions that protect birds from airborne diseases, dust and ammonia. By creating healthier barns, KiposTech helps farmers improve biosecurity, boost productivity and strengthen food security.

KiposTech’s flagship product, KiposPro, is a non-thermal plasma-based device that cleans barn air 24/7, neutralizing airborne pathogens, reducing ammonia and dust, and lowering the risk of disease outbreaks. They pair KiposPro with KiposEye, an integrated Internet of Things platform that monitors air quality parameters like ammonia, carbon dioxide, particulates and humidity. (Internet of Things is the networking capability that allows information to be sent to and received from objects and devices, such as fixtures and appliances, using the Internet.) Using AI models trained on farm environmental data, KiposEye provides real-time alerts and recommendations for ventilation and outbreak risk.

Vivid Machines

Washington

Vivid Machines delivers AI-powered farm intelligence, helping fruit growers cut labor costs and consistently hit yield and quality goals. The company’s Vivid X-Vision system integrates into farm workflows, mounting onto existing equipment to capture plant-level data beneath the canopy as growers perform regular activities. Using computer vision and AI, it provides real-time actionable insights at the individual tree level, allowing growers to make data-driven decisions about labor, pruning, thinning and harvest timing. In addition, the system enables growers to perform precise per-tree chemical applications by integrating into variable rate sprayers to manage growth and prevent disease.

Vivid Machines is commercially available in apples and wine grapes and is building machine learning models for pear, cherries and other fruit crops.

Ag Innovation Challenge Supporters

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

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

Read Article on FB.org

After 22 years of service, Ret. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Matthew Rutter of South Carolina didn’t so much retire as he repurposed his mission, now helping fellow retired veterans and their families build a life of purpose through agriculture.

“When they leave the military, we find that a lot of veterans still have that desire to serve something bigger than themselves. And we find agriculture is a very good fit for that desire to serve because you're now serving your community by feeding it,” Rutter explained.

Project Victory Gardens

Drawing on his extensive experience in strategic planning, personnel development and training operations, Rutter co-founded the nonprofit Project Victory Gardens, dedicated to cultivating resiliency, healing and renewed purpose among veterans through agritherapy, animal therapy and agricultural education. By connecting veterans with meaningful agricultural opportunities, Project Victory Gardens fosters community and taps into the drive and sense of mission that defined their military service.

There is comfort in caring for the land and animals and raising food, according to Rutter.

“Agriculture is very therapeutic. If you're out on a farm, it's very hard to have a bad day if you're bottle feeding a baby goat or you're messing with piglets,” he said.

Farmer Bootcamp

Rutter also developed Farmer Bootcamp, a nationally recognized training program for veterans interested in learning about agriculture. The two- or four-day programs are offered across South Carolina and draw veterans from as far away as Arizona. Bootcamp provides high-impact training on business planning, land access, funding opportunities, soil health, marketing and regulation compliance. Participants in the Bootcamp become a cohort-based peer support network, critical to service members transitioning out of the military and into farming.

The Department of Defense recognized Bootcamp’s immense benefits, designating it as a DoD SkillBridge-approved internship, allowing transitioning service members to complete immersive agricultural training anywhere in South Carolina during their final months of military service. Rutter has coordinated more than 60 internships, with many of the participants launching their own farm businesses or continuing training.

South Carolina Farmer Veteran Coalition

Rutter’s leadership extends to being the founding president of the South Carolina Farmer Veteran Coalition, a trusted resource for education, advocacy and peer support for more than 4,500 veteran farmers across the state.

Rutter’s Ranch

Rutter’s own farm, Rutter’s Ranch, which he cofounded alongside his wife, Kara, who is also a veteran, is thriving. They specialize in Mangalitsa pork charcuterie, heritage breed turkeys, hydroponic herbs and seasonal produce. The Rutters’ business model is focused on regenerative practices, culinary innovation and community connection. In addition, under Matt’s direction, the farm is expanding its agritourism offerings to include farm-to-table dinners, on-farm education and collaborative events with other veteran-led farms.

Veteran Farmer Award of Excellence

For all of the efforts described here – and many more – Rutter is the second recipient of the Veteran Farmer Award of Excellence presented by AFBF with support from Farm Credit. He plans to use part of the $10,000 cash prize for the award to establish an educational weekly “coffee and chores” program for veterans across the state.

AFBF will present Rutter with the Veteran Farmer Award of Excellence at the organization’s 2026 Convention in January, in Anaheim, California.

Read Article on FB.org

Geared toward 4-9-year-olds, “Our Christmas Tree Farm” reveals some of what goes into growing the centerpiece of many American families’ Christmas traditions, a real Christmas tree.

Through 7-year-old Kate’s narrative we learn how the Christmas tree farm brings the whole family together – even Daisy the dog – to help customers make memories as they pick out their trees and enjoy popcorn, sledding and other activities. Though the story is focused on the holiday season, the book shows us the farm is abuzz with activity year-round, as Papa trims the trees and Mom mows the paths, year after year.

Central to the story is Kate’s excitement about a Christmas tree that was planted specially for her when she was born seven years ago, illustrating the seven-to-10 years it takes for a Christmas tree to mature. Little brother Henry’s interest in a tree of his own provides a brief lesson on grafting.

With its vibrant illustrations, engaging writing and fun tree farm facts, “Our Christmas Tree Farm,” written by Lisa Amstutz and illustrated by Christina Forshay, promises to become a new holiday tradition.

Feeding Minds Press

“Our Christmas Tree Farm” was published by Feeding Minds Press, a project of the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture. The book can be purchased through the Foundation’s online store or on Amazon and at other retailers.

Teachers, there is also an “Our Christmas Tree Farm” educator’s guide available for purchase.

Read Article on FB.org

Delaware Farm Bureau’s annual YF&R Strawberry Festival, now in its 15^th year, was held on June 7 at B&B Farms in Townsend, Delaware, and offered visitors a kid’s zone, fresh food and U-pick strawberry fields.

The Delaware Farm Bureau YF&R committee’s seven-member Strawberry Festival subcommittee plans the event every year.

The event also provides Delaware Farm Bureau an opportunity to partner with local Ford dealerships. When people get to the event, they find a pickup truck ready for the “Fill-D-Ford” food drive. Attendees who donate food items save money on their KidZone wristband. All food gets donated to the Food Bank of Delaware and counts toward YF&R’s Harvest for All tally.

Proceeds from the event help to sponsor scholarship funds and support future YF&R events. With 2026 being year 16 for the event, Delaware Farm Bureau hopes to continue to increase participation and grow the Strawberry Festival.

Read Article on FB.org

The People’s Choice Pup is a popular social media element of the Farm Dog of the Year competition. Check out the profiles of our three nominees and vote here. The People’s Choice Pup wins barking, er, bragging rights along with a $2,500 cash prize and a year’s supply of dog food from contest supporter Nestlé Purina PetCare. Cast your vote for your top pup by Nov 28.

Bubbles
5-year-old Border Collie
Montana

Like many farmers, Bubbles, a 5-year-old Border Collie, does a little bit everything year-round on her Montana farm. Her main job, herding, involves bringing the sheep in from the pasture each evening and getting her farmer Elena Hovland-Stuker’s poultry flocks into their shelters at night. Bubbles’ work with the sheep also includes herding them for veterinary work and moving them between pastures and pens. And she pitches in to help the guardian dogs keep the livestock safe from rattlesnakes, grizzly bears and coyotes.

In addition, she helps Elena each summer with the water irrigation dams, holding them down while Elena sets them in the ditches.

Bubbles’ responses to Elena’s commands and her intuitiveness with the animals serve the farm well. During lambing season, Bubbles is on high alert, waking Elena if she oversleeps between late-night checks on ewes about to give birth or senses something is wrong.

A nurturer, Bubbles greets each lamb born on the farm to bond with them and helps the ewes clean the lambs. She also helps Elena raise orphaned kittens, cleaning them after they’ve been fed, playing with them and cuddling them while they sleep.

Bubbles isn’t only intuitive with the animals. Since Elena lost her husband three years ago, Bubbles has been a constant by Elena’s side, providing comfort when she senses Elena’s having a tough day. While Elena can’t imagine running the farm without Bubbles’ help, she also very much values Bubbles’ companionship.

Bubbles’ work doesn’t end at the farm gate. She is the official greeter at the greenhouse where Elena works in the spring and summer. And at the Montana State Fair, where Elena is the superintendent of farm crops and gardening, Bubbles is the Agricultural Education Center’s real-life example of the versatility of livestock working dogs.

You can vote here for Bubbles.

Goose
Red Heeler
Kentucky

Goose, a 12-year-old Red Heeler, took quickly to farm work as puppy, following every row as his farmer, Lindie Huffman, set tobacco and helped bring cattle in from the field. He shadowed Lindie in the greenhouse, claimed the passenger seat during hay harvest and greeted every visitor like family.

In 2021, Goose’s family made the difficult decision to remove both his eyes after he went blind from glaucoma. His family hoped for the best of course, but they were amazed at how his resilience carried him through his recovery. Though he can’t round up the cattle or fetch Lindie’s tools anymore, Goose is still a critical part of farm life, using instinct and memory to guide him. Goose enjoys slow strolls to the red barn and is the farm’s most dependable greeter and morale booster. On those tough days on the farm, which sometimes stretch into tough seasons, Goose is a reminder of the power of resilience, adaptability and gratitude. Watching him overcome blindness with grace and grit gives Lindie strength to overcome her own challenges.

Off the farm, Goose makes just as strong an impression. At the farmers market he is beloved for his calmness and friendly demeanor and he’s a crowd favorite at events like Barket at Market. He’s been Lindie’s constant companion since she began her career as a county Extension agent.

Goose thrives on routine and is as eager to share every moment with Lindie as he was when he was a puppy, providing an unconditional love and loyalty that has led Lindie to call him “the heart of the farm.”

You can vote here for Goose.

Ruby Hope
3-year-old red fox Lab
Indiana

At the top of the long list of Ruby Hope’s attributes are steadfast and uplifting. As a certified service dog, red fox Lab Ruby Hope is Travis Burkhart’s constant companion. After Travis was seriously injured in a car accident in 2008, his black Lab, Molly Grace, was a source of happiness through his long recovery, making Molly Grace’s death in 2022 devastating to him and his family.

Ruby Hope was a gift – in more ways than one – from a Minnesota farmer who heard about Travis’ story. Described as “pure joy on four paws” by her family, Ruby Hope bonded with Travis instantly. Not only is Ruby a registered service dog, she knows a fair share of impressive dog tricks; but as smart as she is, it’s her heart that wins everyone over.

Travis and Ruby Hope’s life on the farm was transformed in February when a group of farmers from across the U.S. gifted Travis a track wheelchair, allowing the two to venture across the farm freely. Now, Travis can reconnect with the memories of work he loved – driving a tractor during harvest, stacking straw and pulling weeds from the soybeans – and introduce Ruby Hope to the sights, sounds and smells of farm life.

Ruby Hope takes her job as Travis’ service dog very seriously, staying faithfully by his side, guiding him on the farm and helping with the daily tasks they share. Twice weekly, she accompanies Travis to his workouts, providing both motivation and comfort.

As impactful as Ruby Hope’s physical presence and training have been in Travis’ life, at times the reason to smile and companionship she provides is even more important.

You can vote here for Ruby Hope.

Read Article on FB.org

A new grant from the Native American Agriculture Fund will allow the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture to develop a new Purple Plow Challenge focused on Native American student interests such as resilience and food security.

As with all Purple Plow Challenges, the Native American-focused challenge will provide authentic, hands-on learning opportunities that connect science, technology and agriculture. Through this project, students will research a real agricultural issue, design and test a solution, and present their finding, helping to build critical skills in leadership, problem-solving and financial literacy. The project will include educator training, resource development and broad outreach to Native American schools, after-school programs, 4-H clubs and other community groups.

“The goal with this upcoming Challenge is to inspire young Native American learners to engage with agriculture in ways that are both relevant and academically rigorous,” explained Julia Recko, managing director of the Foundation. “The challenge and the resources tied to it will strengthen Native American students’ connection to food systems and open pathways to future careers in agriculture and STEM.”

The first year of the grant includes searching for educators in the Native American community who would be willing to help the Foundation determine what topic would be the most interesting to their students and then creating the challenge. (Fill out this link if you’d like to be involved.) In the second year, the challenge will be launched and completed with the selection of a winner.

About the Purple Plow Challenge

The Purple Plow Challenge is a special project of the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture (AFBFA) and made possible through generous support of title sponsor Corteva Agriscience. AFBFA created the Purple Plow Challenge to engage young people – and their teachers – in the multifaceted world of agriculture.

“We believe when teachers and students understand the science and technology involved in food and fiber production and enjoy learning about it, we may get more young people to pursue agriculture-related STEM careers,” said Recko. “We’ll also have more people informed about one of the most important industries for a sustainable society.”

The Purple Plow Challenge brand encompasses both the history and future of agriculture; the plow symbolizes the history of production agriculture, while purple represents the innovative and exciting ways that farmers, ranchers and many others involved in agriculture work to solve challenges today.

The Purple Plow Challenge site encourages students to research scenarios and build prototypes to solve problems related to food, hunger and sustainability. Individuals, groups and classes in grades five through 12 are eligible to enter the competition.

The current challenge, which is open through Dec. 2, asks students to design better irrigation systems to use water even more wisely, with a focus on how gravity affects water flow.

All of the challenges incorporate several Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core standards and come with numerous resources for teachers and participants.

About the Native American Agriculture Fund

The Native American Agriculture Fund is a private, charitable trust that envisions a future where Native farmers and ranchers thrive and play a crucial role in land stewardship and the nation’s economic viability. Their mission is to empower Native and rural communities with the knowledge, resources and support to foster robust agricultural practices, resilience and economic self-sufficiency. They believe that by investing in Native agriculture, they can strengthen rural America’s infrastructure development and job creation, benefiting everyone.

Read Article on FB.org

Being the smallest state has some advantages. For one, traveling the state to visit the 30 farms participating in Rhode Island Farm Bureau’s 2024 Farm Scavenger Hunt was doable for many residents, especially over the nearly eight months the hunt was held.

The scavenger hunt was launched by the Rhode Island Fruit Growers in 2011. When they handed it over to Rhode Island Farm Bureau in 2022, many aspects of the event needed to be tweaked, if not overhauled.

In 2024, the 30 participating farms were located in various areas of the state and represented the different types of farms – from dairies and vineyards to berries and sweet corn – found in one of the most urban states in the country. USDA’s 2022 Census of Agriculture shows over 1,000 farms in the Ocean State, with the scavenger hunt reflecting a select few.

Farms pay to participate, with the money going toward printing tens of thousands of scavenger hunt fliers and funding a $250 prize package for a single winner among those who completed a flyer. Participating farms also agree to redeem up to $50 in $5 gift certificates for those returning completed or nearly completed flyers.

People who visited 20 of the participating farms received two $5 gift certificates, while those who visited all 30 received four $5 gift certificates. The farm-specific gift certificates are valid at farms participating in the submitted year’s scavenger hunt, so those participating in the May 1-Dec. 31, 2024, scavenger hunt received their gift certificates just before the hunt started this year.

Visitors on the hunt get a trifold map of all the participating  locations. Once on the farm, they get a stamp or unique hole punch to officially mark their visit. Even better, they may be enticed to buy some of the farm’s offerings. The maps are available at all the participating farms, which are listed on Rhode Island Farm Bureau’s website, and many grocery stores, libraries, activity centers and other
locations.

While logistics and funding limit the number of participating farms to 30, Rhode Farm Bureau intends to continually grow the number of locations at which visitors can pick up a scavenger hunt flyer and play along – and learn a little bit more about Rhode Island agriculture and Farm Bureau.

“The cards and photos some participants include with their returned fliers have been so rewarding to receive, with many participating for a decade,” said Heidi Quinn, Rhode Island Farm Bureau executive director. “Some even stop by the office to drop them off and share highlights of the hunt.”

One participant’s local magazine article about the Farm Scavenger Hunt prompted U.S. Sen. Jack Reed’s staff to partner with Rhode Island Farm Bureau for a joint tour of several of the participating farms, promoting the scavenger hunt and Reed’s EAT Local Foods Act.

Read Article on FB.org

To engage with younger audiences about the world of agriculture and get members involved in promoting agriculture in a fun, interactive way, Idaho Farm Bureau started their Moving Ag to the Classroom (MAC) Trailer program.

The program started with a single trailer and two modules but has now expanded to three trailers and four modules. Each of the modules is also paired with a specific “Big Book,” teaching school-aged children about different agricultural commodities.

The original goal set by Idaho Farm Bureau was to schedule the trailer to visit 20-30 schools every year. However, this goal has been far exceeded, with the MAC trailers visiting over 75 schools every year and presenting to over 11,000 students. Additionally, the trailers now visit 12 county fairs and the state fair to reach another 25,000-plus children.

The program has also proven to be a great retention tool for students who go on to be involved in agriculture. Many students who experienced the trailer when they were younger come back to teach one of the modules when they are older.

Idaho Farm Bureau, teachers and students alike have been pleased with how the program has evolved through the years. This has also provided a great way for Farm Bureau members to have a meaningful experience in their local communities.

Read Article on FB.org

To forge stronger connections with youth in agriculture, Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation started the Classic Livestock Show. First held in 2022 as a part of Mississippi Farm Bureau’s 100-year celebration, the event quickly became a “classic.”

The event has everything you’d expect in a top-tier livestock show, like beef cattle, market hogs, sheep and goats, but raises the bar, with pelleted shavings in the swine division, online registration, a digital leaderboard display and a livestream of events, for example. And the substantial cash prizes and high-quality awards like banners and buckles draw a significant number of participants.

Mississippi Farm Bureau is optimistic the opportunity they provide youth to showcase their skills will create a generation of young adults with an affinity for Farm Bureau and interest in continuing their involvement in the organization.

Last year, more than 2,500 people attended the Classic Livestock Show. There were 1,135 total livestock show entries and nearly $65,000 was awarded in cash and other prizes.

The 2025 Mississippi Farm Bureau Classic Livestock Show will be held Nov. 21-23. A new addition this year, four $1,000 college scholarships will be awarded. All youth livestock show competitors will be entered into a pool with four names being chosen.

Read Article on FB.org

Launched by Kansas Farm Bureau member Rick McNary as a Facebook page during the COVID-19 pandemic, Shop Kansas Farms continues to grow, with a goal now of developing regional food systems.

Shop Kansas Farms

McNary started Shop Kansas Farms in 2020 to help farmers who had lost their traditional markets due to COVID-19-related school, university, restaurant and hotel closures. He was also looking to provide a farm-to-fork connection for consumers hungry for local farm products, especially in areas where shoppers faced empty grocery store meat counters. In 2022, Kansas Farm Bureau purchased Shop Kansas Farms, with McNary still very much involved, and is expanding the program to include regional food systems that encompass the production, processing and distribution of food products in a local area. These “Harvest Hubs” involve entire communities including farmers, processors, distributors, retailers and consumers.

Border Queen Harvest Hub

In 2023, a meeting between staff from Shop Kansas Farms and the Patterson Family Foundation resulted in a nearly $300,000 grant from the foundation, allowing Shop Kansas Farms to create its first Harvest Hub. The grant provided funding for a website, an executive director and two years of consultation from Kansas Farm Bureau and Shop Kansas Farms. The money also allows the hub to host monthly regional town halls.

Understanding the importance of community support for the first hub, Shop Kansas Farms early on sought out community leaders and engaged with the Sumner County economic development director and the county commissioners. The commissioners’ endorsement of the idea came with funding for a part-time staffer to help build the hub’s contact resource management system.

Since most of the hub’s biggest supporters were located in the city of Caldwell, nicknamed the “Border Queen” for its proximity to the Oklahoma border, the hub was named the Border Queen Harvest Hub.

Buzz Around the Hub

There are now more than 150 farms and ranches accessible via the Border Queen Harvest Hub’s robust website. The hub also brings the food system to life via town halls, where consumers and farmers can learn more about the hub, and their “Market of Farms,” which brings vendors and consumers from all over the state together to make local foods available for purchase. And farm tours showcase seasonal offerings at some of the hub’s participating farms.

Sedgwick County Harvest Hub

With a nearly $300,000 grant from the Kansas Health Foundation, Shop Kansas Farms is launching the next Harvest Hub in Sedgwick County, in which Wichita, Kansas’ largest city, is located.

Community Connections

Each of the hubs will be funded and launched separately, but they’re all as much about community connections as they are about supporting farmers and ranchers. The digital component allows consumers to follow the steps between farm and fork, which enhances food system transparency, fosters trust and encourages community engagement. It also instills local pride and, with its focus on local purchasing, helps keep the regional food system resilient and growing. The hubs’ events, like town halls, farm tours and the markets of farms provide another dimension to the overall community experience.

Read Article on FB.org