Central Idaho, Walla Walla Companies Named Ag Innovation Challenge Semi-Finalists

The American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2021 Ag Innovation Challenge semi-finals list is out and it includes a Grangeville, ID-based company. TerraClear Inc., focuses on rock clearing and according to company officials, improves farmers’ productivity through end-to-end automation. The Central Idaho crew, led by Trevor Thompson, will compete against nine other startups for the possibility of being awarded up to $70,000.

In addition, Walla Walla-based Harvust has also been named a semi-finalist. Harvust describes itself as a labor management app for your farm.

According to AFBF, the competition provides an opportunity for individuals to showcase ideas and business innovations in agriculture.

“The hard-working entrepreneurs recognized today are committed to providing solutions for some of the biggest challenges facing agriculture,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “This includes supporting farms, ranches and rural economies affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.” 

TerraClear, Harvust and the other semi-finalists have already been awarded $7,500 for making it this far.

The eight remaining semi-finalists are:

AgriHoodBaltimore, Baltimore, Maryland. Team lead: Richard Francis  

Agro Empresas Black Belt, Coamo, Puerto Rico. Team lead: Luis Raimundo Bures Martinez

Arbre Technologies Inc., Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Team lead: Matthieu Vollmer  

BoldCypress LLC, Oran, Missouri. Team lead: Nathan Holmes

Butter Meat Co., Perry, New York. Team lead: Jill Gould

Insulights.com , Akron, Iowa. Team lead: Bill Brown  

Parasanti, Thrall, Texas. Team lead: Max Adams

Row Shaver Systems LLC, Great Bend, Kansas. Team lead: Dave Button

The 10 semi-finalist teams will compete at the AFBF Convention on Friday, January 8, to advance to the final round where the four finalist teams will receive an additional $7,500 for a total of $15,000. The final four teams will compete live in front of Farm Bureau members, investors and industry representatives on Tuesday, January 12, to win:

Farm Bureau Entrepreneur of the Year, for a total of $50,000
People’s Choice Award, for a total of $20,000

This is the seventh year of the Challenge, which was the first national business competition focused exclusively on rural entrepreneurs launching food and agriculture businesses.

The top 10 semi-finalist teams will participate in pitch training and mentorship from Cornell University’s SC Johnson College of Business faculty, and network with representatives from the Agriculture Department’s Rural Business Investment Companies.

Visit the Farm Bureau's Website to learn more about the Challenge.

Earlier this year, Coeur d’Alene-based HydroSide Systems LLC won the Farm Bureau Innovation Challenge, becoming 2020 Farm Bureau Entrepreneur of the Year. 

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