Ag Innovation Challenge Bringing the Future to Our Farms

Agriculture is about the future. Farmers are always looking ahead for how we can do better from one season to the next. We are looking for ways to leave the land better than we found it. We are looking for innovative ideas to strengthen our communities and bring the next generation to the farm to ensure our nation continues to have a safe, healthy food supply. We rely on forward-thinkers, researchers and entrepreneurs who will help us create a brighter future for agriculture. That’s why the Ag Innovation Challenge is a hallmark competition for the American Farm Bureau.

Innovation Drives Agriculture

Like most farmers, I love getting to check out the latest equipment and technology at a farm show. Sometimes, I think about how amazed my grandfather would be at how far we have come from the days that it was just him, his mule and his plow. Thanks to advances in technology and innovation, farmers are growing more with less. We are able to be more precise when we’re using critical tools and valuable resources on the farm—from water to fertilizer and pesticides. Technology is also changing the way we do business on the farm, from how we monitor our crop and livestock health to how we streamline our businesses, saving time and money.

Farm Bureau’s Ag Innovation Challenge, in partnership with Farm Credit, is elevating and spurring on businesses that are helping farmers solve on-the-ground challenges. We are now in our 12th year of this competition, which was the first national business competition of its kind focused exclusively on rural entrepreneurs, by the way. Over the years, we have invested more than $1 million in innovative businesses that are focused on strengthening our farms and rural communities. This year, the Ag Innovation Challenge will award a total of $145,000 in startup funds throughout the entire competition, thanks to the support of our generous sponsors: Farm Credit, Bayer Crop Science, John Deere, Farm Bureau Bank, Farm Bureau Financial Services and T-Mobile.

Innovation Drives Farm Bureau

The final round of the Ag Innovation Challenge takes center stage every year at the AFBF Convention, and this coming year will be no exception. The final four teams will compete live in front of a panel of judges at the Cultivation Center Stage on our trade show floor in Anaheim,California, on Sunday, Jan. 11. Farm Bureau shines the spotlight on these entrepreneurs because we know how important it is for them to connect with farmers and ranchers, as well as other businesses and leaders in agriculture. AFBF Convention attendees get to hear about these all-star businesses directly from the innovators and entrepreneurs themselves.

Those connections don’t end after the final four competitors walk off the stage, either. Take, for example, the 2025 Ag Innovation Challenge winner, Gripp, a company that provides farmers a user-friendly platform to track assets, communicate across teams, and keep everything on the farm running smoothly. Gripp is now a Member Benefits partner of the American Farm Bureau Federation. This means more savings for Farm Bureau members with exclusive discounts on products and services from Gripp. This kind of partnership is another solid reminder of how Farm Bureau is committed to investing in the future of agriculture and to bringing benefits and cost savings to our members today.

Innovation Drives the Future

We recently announced the four finalist teams for the 2026 Ag Innovation Challenge, and I cannot wait for AFBF Convention attendees to meet them and learn more about their businesses. In the meantime, here’s a little preview of each company.

KiposTech of Pennsylvania is working to improve biosecurity through innovation to make poultry barns even healthier. They offer plasma-based air disinfection and AI-powered monitoring solutions to help protect birds from airborne diseases, dust and ammonia.

CryoBio of New York is focused on tackling the threat that frost poses to crops. They are developing biotech solutions to protect crops, to build plants’ natural defenses, and to prevent crop damage and loss.

Vivid Machines of Washington state is using AI to help fruit producers cut labor costs and consistently hit yield and quality goals. Their tool provides real-time data and insights to help growers, packing houses and marketers as they make decisions for growing, harvesting, and sales.

FarmSmarter.ai of Louisiana is the first AI platform to bring agricultural workflows into one place, in addition to answering questions and offering research-based solutions to help farmers save time and money and stay compliant.

Each of these impressive finalists will have a chance to compete for $100,000 in startup funds in January. The runner-up will be awarded $25,000, and the remaining two businesses will each receive $10,000. I hope you will make plans to join us at the 2026 AFBF Convention in Anaheim, Jan. 9-14, to see how these entrepreneurs—and agriculture leaders from across the country—are innovating and exploring ways that we can “Imagine. Grow. Lead.”