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Are You the Next Winner of the Rural Entrepreneurship Challenge?
Entries are now being accepted for the American
Farm Bureau Federation’s third Rural Entrepreneurship
Challenge. Entrepreneurs will compete for $145,000 in
startup funds.
The competition provides an opportunity for
individuals to showcase ideas and business innovations
that benefit rural regions of the United States. It is
the first national rural business competition focused
exclusively on innovative entrepreneurs working on
food and agriculture businesses.
“Owners of all types of businesses across the food
and agriculture supply chain are encouraged to enter the
competition,” said Dr. Lisa Benson, AFBF’s director
of rural development. “Through the challenge, we’ll
provide 10 rural entrepreneurs with access to funding to
take their businesses to the next level.”
All applications, which include a business plan,
video pitch and photo, must be submitted online by June
30. Judges will review the applications and provide
feedback to the participants.
Competitors are invited to submit for-profit business
ideas related to food and agriculture online at www.
strongruralamerica.com/challenge.
The top 10 teams will be announced in October. This
includes six teams who will each win $10,000 in startup
funds.
Businesses related to food and agriculture include
farms or ranches, value-added food processing, food
hubs, community-supported agriculture programs
(CSAs), farm-to-table restaurants, farmers’ markets,
wineries, breweries, cideries and distilleries. Businesses
can also support food and agriculture such as crop
scouting, agritourism, ag advertising agencies and ag
technology companies.
The final four teams will compete in a live
competition at AFBF’s 98th Annual Convention in
Phoenix on Jan. 8 to win: Farm Bureau Entrepreneur
of the Year award and $30,000 (chosen by judges);
People’s Choice award and $25,000 (chosen by
public vote) - First runner-up prize, $15,000 and
Second runner-up prize, $15,000.
Articles for NewsBytes must be submitted by the 15th of
the month prior to publication. Time-sensitive announcements
must be submitted no less than 8 weeks prior to the date of the
event. Electronic submissions, including photos, are preferred.
Send to [email protected].
The Entrepreneur of the Year award and the People’s
Choice award will be awarded to two different teams.
The team that wins the Entrepreneur of the Year award
will not be eligible for the People’s Choice Award. The
competition timeline, detailed eligibility guidelines and
profiles of the 2015 and 2016 finalist teams are available
at www.strongruralamerica.com/challenge.