Iowa’s “Grow Your Future” Award Applications Are Now Being Accepted

Iowa Farm Bureau Federation is currently accepting applications for the next "Grow Your Future" Award Winner. IFBF members that are between the ages of 18 and 35 are encouraged to apply for this award for entrepreneurs with a farming-related niche or specialty business.

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“To make the family farm work, a majority of today’s young farmers have off-farm income," said IFBF Farmers President Brent Johnson. "In this contest have raised crickets for human consumption, developed successful direct-to-consumer markets, and helped further Iowa’s water quality goals through custom cover crop services."

Ten entrepreneurs will be selected from the application pool and then narrowed down by public vote. Those that are selected from the voting process will then compete in a pitch-off during the 2023 Young Farmer Conference on January 28th.

First, second, and third-place finalists will receive $7,500, $5000, and $2,500 to expand their businesses. Applications can be found on the Iowa Farm Bureau's website.

Eastern Iowa farmer Lillie Beringer was the winner of the 2022 Iowa Farm Bureau Federation's  “Grow Your Future Award".

Beringer is an animal nutritionist and she recently purchased her grandfather’s farm- where her Angus herd would graze in the summer. She started a Facebook page for the farm and what started as a way to share her farm adventures turned into a business when someone asked “Can I buy beef from you?” Thus Beringer Family Farms was started.

Beringer Family Farms is celebrating its first year in business selling 21-day dry-aged Angus cuts.

Beringer took home $7,500 which she planned to use for a new walk-in cooler to store more products.