Reserved for Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IBFF) members aged 18-35, the organization is accepting applications for its Grow Your Future competition.
The contest is for entrepreneurs with a farming-related niche or specialty business background, according to a release.
“To make the family farm work, a majority of today’s young farmers have off-farm income,” says IFBF President Brent Johnson in a statement. “We have seen ingenious ideas result from that situation. Iowa agriculture is incredibly diverse, and past Grow Your Future Award participants exemplify that. Farmers in this contest have raised crickets for human consumption, developed successful direct-to-consumer markets and helped further Iowa’s water quality goals through custom cover crop services. Our goal is to help the next generation of farmers excel in whatever method of farming they choose.”
Up to 10 entrepreneurs will be selected from the applicant pool before then narrowed down by public vote. Contestants will then compete in a pitch-off during the 2023 Young Farmer Conference next January.
Last year’s winner was Lillie Beringer of Beringer Family Farms.
“The Grow Your Future Award allowed me to share my story and financially take my beef sales to the next level with increased freezer space,” says 2022 first-place winner, Lillie Beringer, in a statement. “I enjoyed networking with like-minded, young farmer entrepreneurs and was truly humbled by the opportunity and constant support.”
First, second and third place finalists will receive $7,500, $5000 and $2,500, respectively, to expand their businesses. To apply, submit an application and short video to iowafarmbureau.com/growyourfuture.
