Browse Ambrook’s collection of funding programs by Farm Bureau (FB)

To apply for the 2023 Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge, please complete and submit the application at this portal by April 29, 2022 at 11:59 pm EDT. Late entries will not be accepted.

The Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge is a national business competition that showcases U.S. startups developing innovative solutions that address challenges facing America’s farmers, ranchers and rural communities. Launched in 2015, The Challenge was the first national business competition of its kind focused exclusively on rural entrepreneurs.

Now in their eighth year, the American Farm Bureau Federation in partnership with Farm Credit, are looking to identify the&#x2004;top entrepreneurs who are addressing both traditional challenges farmers face on their operation, such as access to labor, optimizing yield and reducing operating costs, to entrepreneurs who are addressing new challenges facing farmers and rural communities.

Farm Bureau will award $165,000 in startup funds to ten businesses, culminating at a live pitch competition and networking event in Atlanta, GA. The Ag Innovation Challenge Winner will be awarded $50,000 in startup funds provided by sponsors [Farm Credit](https://farmcredit.com/), [Bayer Crop Science](https://www.cropscience.bayer.com/), [John Deere](https://www.deere.com/en/), [Farm Bureau Bank](https://www.farmbureau.bank/) and [Microsoft](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/).



The Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge is a national business competition that showcases U.S. startups developing innovative solutions that address challenges facing America’s farmers, ranchers and rural communities. Launched in 2015, The Challenge was the first national business competition of its kind focused exclusively on rural entrepreneurs.
Now in their eighth year, the American Farm Bureau Federation in partnership with Farm Credit, are looking to identify the top entrepreneurs who are addressing both traditional challenges farmers face on their operation, such as access to labor, optimizing yield and reducing operating costs, to entrepreneurs who are addressing new challenges facing farmers and rural communities.
Farm Bureau will award $165,000 in startup funds to ten businesses, culminating at a live pitch competition and networking event in Atlanta, GA. The Ag Innovation Challenge Winner will be awarded $50,000 in startup funds provided by sponsors Farm Credit, Bayer Crop Science, John Deere, Farm Bureau Bank and Microsoft.

1. The 2023 Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge is open to all Farm Bureau members. 
2. All businesses entered into The Challenge must be for-profit. Non-profit businesses are not eligible.
3. Applicant Team Lead must be at least 18 years of age to enter.
4. Businesses who have received a funding round beyond Series A (or a comparable funding round) are not eligible to compete in The Challenge.
5. Previous Semi-Finalist businesses are not eligible to compete in The Challenge. 
6. Applicant Team Lead must be available to attend and participate in the Top Ten Semi-Finalist competition, the Final Four Live Pitch Event, and the awards ceremony to be held at the 2023 American Farm Bureau Convention (“Convention”) in San Juan, Puerto Rico from January 6, 2023 to January 11, 2023. 

A lump sum of money for a specific purpose that does not need to be paid back.

Grant

- Ag Innovation Challenge Terms and Conditions
- Become a Farm Bureau member

Training

Legal & Finance

Marketing

The application calls for inclusion of various information regarding an Applicant’s business plan, photos and a video pitch. An online judging committee comprised of Farm Bureau and Farm Credit staff will review and evaluate the applications using a point-based rubric and other factors as determined by the judges to select the Top Ten Semi-Finalist teams, which will be announced on September 13, 2022 at 12:00 p.m. EDT. Business scores or judge’s rubric will not be sent to applicants. The Top Ten Semi-Finalists will travel to the 2023 AFBF Convention to compete live. 
Round 2 will take place at the 2023 AFBF Convention, where the Top Ten Semi-Finalist teams will pitch their business in a workshop-style meeting room in front of a panel of judges and live audience. These judges, along with Farm Bureau and Farm Credit advisors will select four (4) teams to compete live in the Final Four Live Pitch competition. 
Round 3, the final round, will also take place at the 2023 AFBF Convention and will consist of the Final Four (4) teams competing on stage in a live event in front of a team of judges and a live audience. The Final Four (4) teams will compete for the grand prize and title of 2023 Ag Innovation Challenge Winner, 2023 Ag Innovation Challenge Runner-up, as well as the People's Choice Award. The winners will be announced at the 2023 AFBF Convention Closing General Session in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Monday, January 11, 2023. The Team Lead from each of the four Finalist teams is required to be present at the AFBF Convention Closing General Session and to accept their award on stage if they are chosen as a winning team.

Apply on Submittable (link on the program page) by submitting a nomination form with a written narrative on excellence in farming or agriculture and community impact, plus a Contestant Release and any Third-Party Releases. Forms are at fb.org/veteranfarmer. Entries close at the deadline or after 200 compliant entries, whichever comes first.

Deadline text on the page: Applications due by 11:59 p.m. ET on Tuesday, September 1, 2026. The 2027 AFBF Veteran Farmer Award of Excellence recipient will be notified in mid-September, with the winner recognized publicly on Veterans Day, November 11, 2026. (Official Rules: Entries must be received after June 17, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. EST and before September 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST, or when 200 entries that comply with the Official Rules are received, whichever comes first.)

Veteran Farmer Award program

General office

Front Desk

Each year AFBF picks one military veteran who is active in farming or agriculture and in their community and gives them $10,000 in cash. The winner also gets up to $5,000 to travel to the AFBF Convention, where the cash is handed out. Entrants send a nomination form with a written narrative, and judges score excellence in farming and community impact. The 2026 entry window ran June 17–September 1, 2026. 2026 was the program's second year.



- Veteran who has served or is currently serving in any branch of the U.S. military and is actively involved in agriculture and their community
- Legal resident of the U.S. or U.S. territories, 18 or older
- 'Applicants are not required to be Farm Bureau members.'
- Not open to past winners or AFBF/Farm Credit employees, directors, officers, agents and their immediate families (state Farm Bureau board members may enter)
- Winner must attend the AFBF Convention (Charlotte, NC, January 8-13, 2027) to receive the cash prize

One winner per year. $10,000 cash, paid at the Convention, plus up to $5,000 in travel reimbursement. Skill-based contest judged by AFBF-selected judges. The winner must share their story publicly.

Published amounts: The recipient of the award will receive $10,000 plus reimbursement of up to $5,000 in travel and other expenses incurred for the recipient and their guest to attend the American Farm Bureau Federation Convention

List of Farm Bureau (FB) Funding Opportunities