January 20 2021
After a week filled with fascinating and inspiring business pitches from ten of America’s most innovative entrepreneurs, the American Farm Bureau Federation announced the 2021 Ag Innovation Challenge winners. Launched in 2015, the Challenge is the first national business competition focused exclusively on rural entrepreneurs launching food and agriculture businesses, and it continues to focus on strengthening rural America through ag entrepreneurship today.
Right to the punch AFBF was thrilled to announce that the 2021 Entrepreneur of the Year is Harvust , a Washington-based software platform that helps farms with their most valuable resource: their people. From the moment a new employee walks in the door to the moment they are doing productive work, Harvust is making some of the most important HR tasks on a farm like hiring, training and communication simple, fast and organized.
American Farm Bureau Virtual Convention Kicks Off
Tuesday Jan 12th, 2021 The American Farm Bureau’s Virtual Convention kicked off Sunday, January 10 with an opening address by AFBF President Zippy Duvall from his farm in Georgia.
“When we started planning this year’s convention in February, we chose the theme: Stronger Together,” Duvall said. “Little did we know how appropriate it would be. The past year has shown us just how true that theme is.
“Clearly, 2020 was a year of challenges,” Duvall continued. “Farmers and ranchers faced high expectations to keep America – and much of the world – fed during a global pandemic.”
The final four teams that will compete in the American Farm Bureau Federation Ag Innovation Challenge have been announced. The final four:
Agro Empresas Black Belt, Coamo, Puerto Rico. Team lead: Luis Raimundo Bures Martinez;
Arbre Technologies Inc., Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Team lead: Matthieu Vollmer;
Harvust, Walla Walla, Washington. Team lead: Riley Clubb; and
TerraClear Inc., Grangeville, Idaho. Team lead: Trevor Thompson.
The four will compete in the final round of competition on Tuesday, Jan. 12. The winner receives The Entrepreneur of the Year award and a total of $50,000.
You can cast your vote for the Ag Innovation Challenge People s Choice Award through 7 p.m. Jan. 12.