Finalists for Farm Bureau challenge to make presentations

The final four competitors in the Farm Bureau Rural Entrepreneurship Challenge are preparing for the final round of competition to be held during the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 97th Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show on Jan. 10 in Orlando, Florida.

The final four were chosen from 165 applicants around the country and awarded $15,000 each based on their business ideas to help rural America.

The four companies are:
**AccuGrain from Rose Hill, Iowa, with an x-ray technology to inventory flowing grain in real time;
**AgriSync of Dallas Center, Iowa, with a mobile customer support platform for crop farmers;
**Farm Specific Technology, from Bolivar, Tennessee, with a no-till crimper for cover crop production; and
**Fedora Malthouse from Village of Shepherd, Michigan, with a value-added processing entry for malted barley production for use in craft beer brewers.

In January, the four businesses will present their ideas to a panel of judges and a live audience. The two major prizes awarded are the Rural Entrepreneur of the Year Award, which comes with another $15,000 prize, and the People's Choice Award, for a $10,000 prize. The wining business could receive a total of $40,000 to help implement the business plan pitched to the judges.

This is the second year for the Rural Entrepreneurship Challenge.