Ten innovation-driven enterprises will go head-to-head for the top prize of $100,000 in the 2026 Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge.
Among these is Verility Inc., which is headquartered in Indiana.
The American Farm Bureau Federation, in partnership with Farm Credit, continues to encourage agricultural innovation through the challenge.
“With the world around us changing at a rapid pace, there’s a near-constant need for folks to innovate in the agriculture space. Farmers and ranchers are no stranger to the need to roll up our sleeves and lean into this entrepreneurial spirit,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall.
The challenge is an opportunity for entrepreneurs to present to a panel of judges their emerging ideas and businesses in the agricultural industry, with a chance to earn $100,000 in startup funds. Farm Bureau is offering a total of $145,000 in funding throughout the course of the competition.
According to its website, Verility Inc. is a global platform providing fertility analysis products that enable livestock producers and breeders to accelerate reproductive performance. Verility and the other semi-finalist teams will now participate in a virtual pitch first round.
The four teams advancing to the final round will each receive $10,000 and will be announced on Sept. 10. The four teams will compete on Monday, Jan. 12, at the AFBF Convention in front of a live audience of Farm Bureau members, investors and industry representatives. Top titles and prizes will be awarded as follows:
Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge Runner-Up, total of $25,000.
This will be the competition’s 12th year. The Ag Innovation Challenge was the first national business competition of its kind to cater to rural entrepreneurs launching agricultural and food businesses.
Farm Bureau recognizes and supports these rural businesses with generous funding provided by sponsors Farm Credit, Bayer, John Deere, Farm Bureau Bank, Farm Bureau Financial Services and T-Mobile.
To learn more about the challenge, visit: fb.org/challenge.