Ag Innovation Challenge Winners: Where Are They Now?

By Cyndie Shearing

The Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge, now in its 12th year, showcases top entrepreneurs developing solutions to address both traditional and new challenges facing America’s farmers, ranchers and rural communities. As nominations roll in for the current competition, it seems appropriate to share what some prior winners have been doing. I recently caught up with a few of them.

Past Ag Innovation Challenge Winners

Matthew Rooda is with 2018 winner SwineTech. Since participating in the competition, the Iowa-based company has graduated from the prestigious Pearse Lyons Accelerator and raised $12 million in capital. The company, which protects pigs through novel technologies that minimize labor and energy use, has scaled operations to manage nearly 15 million pigs in the U.S., Canada and Australia. “Participation in the Ag Innovation Challenge played a pivotal role in our early growth,” said Rooda. “By leveraging both the network we gained and the initial funding, we were able to refine our product, secure our intellectual property and prepare for the commercial launch of our solutions.”

Dana Mohr reports that in the last five years 2020 Idaho-based winner HydroSide Systems has raised capital, developed a team, launched its wheel line machine into the market, then sold that product line. The company is poised to launch its second hydroelectric crop irrigation product, a patented autonomous hose reel. “The Challenge provided a way for us to truly test our business plan and model with seasoned agri-business professionals,” said Mohr. “Plus, the incredible exposure we received led to a huge number of connections, ranging from potential investors to farmers interested in our machines.”

Chad Johnson shares that for Grain Weevil Corporation, winning the 2022 competition gave the Nebraska-based company instant credibility. The Grain Weevil is a grain management robot that improves quality and eliminates the need for farmers to enter grain bins, an important safety consideration. “Since participating, Grain Weevil has grown from a barely functional idea to a new tool making an impact on farms throughout the Midwest,” said Johnson. “The Ag Innovation Challenge serves as a direct gateway to potential relationships, valuable relationships and essential opportunities.” Later this year, the company will make the product available throughout the U.S. for the first time.