The final four will pitch their business ideas to a team of judges in front of a live audience at AFBF’s 97th Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show in January in hopes of winning the Rural Entrepreneur of the Year Award for an additional $15,000 and the People’s Choice Award for $10,000 more, totaling prize money of up to $40,000 to implement their ideas.
“The depth and diversity of business ideas in cultivation in rural areas across America is truly inspiring,” Stallman said. “The 10 businesses recognized today are an outstanding group of entrepreneurs,” he continued. “Rural entrepreneurs typically face unique challenges including limited options for support with resources such as startup funding, which we aim to address through the challenge.”
Semi-finalists were awarded $10,000 each, thanks to the generous sponsorship of the Farm Credit Council. They are:
- Cherry Brother Designs, LLC (Shelbyville, Indiana), farm safety entry, customizable farm and ranch safety plans. Team lead: Tina Cherry.
- Kolb Farms (Cleveland, Wisconsin), farm/ranch entry, grass fed beef marketed direct to consumers. Team lead: Adam Kolb.
- Lilac Hedge Farm (Berlin, Massachusetts), farm/ranch entry, pasture-raised beef, pork, lamb and poultry for direct sale to consumers. Team lead: Ryan MacKay.
- Pumpkin Vine Creek, LLC (Paint Lick, Kentucky), farm/ranch entry, biodegradable ground covers to protect against soil erosion. Team lead: Robin Mason.
- Smiling Hara LLC (Mars Hill, North Carolina), value-added processing entry, soy and soy-free tempeh production and sales. Team lead: McCayne Miller.
- Strategic Management of Agriculture Related Technologies, S.M.A.R.T. (Oakland, Nebraska), ag tech entry, water conservation systems for farms and ranches. Team lead: Kurtis Charling.
The top challenge teams were selected by 40 judges with expertise in business development, equity investment fund management, agribusiness lending and entrepreneurial coaching.