Applications open for Iowa Farm Bureau’s ‘Grow Your Future’ award

Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF), the state’s largest grassroots farm organization, encourages young farmer entrepreneurs between 18-35 years old with an ag-related business to enter the Grow Your Future Award for a chance to win $10,000. This competition is focused on Farm Bureau members with unique business ventures that tap into niche production, agritourism and other specialty services.

Interested entrepreneurs should apply online by Sept. 1. A panel of judges will select up to six finalists to send to the online public vote. The public vote will narrow the finalists to three. The top three finalists will compete in a live pitch-off during the 2025 Iowa Farm Bureau Young Farmer Conference on Jan. 17, 2025. Winners will be announced Jan 18.

First, second and third place finalists will receive $10,000, $5,000 and $2,500, respectively. Last year’s Grow Your Future Award winner grows more than 40 different crops in addition to raising meat birds and plans to use her winnings to expand direct-to-consumer marketing and farmers market presence.