The lead for Iowa-based ScoutPro has been honored as the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Entrepreneur of the Year. This news release from AFBF says Michael Koenig was picked from four finalists and receives $30,000 in prize money to implement his business idea, which is software to assist farmers with crop maintenance, while Paul Greive represented Pasturebird, LLC, which won the People’s Choice award and $10,000 in the Farm Bureau Rural Entrepreneurship Challenge.
“Rural entrepreneurs continue to be a major driving force in our nation’s economy,” AFBF President Bob Stallman said. “We congratulate all the finalists and wish them well in their future business endeavors.”
The finalist businesses were chosen from more than 200 applicants. Golden Bridges, Inc. of Palmyra, Missouri, team lead Suzanne Ellerbrock, and Pulaski Grow of Pulaski, Virginia, team lead Lee Spiegel, were the other two finalists who competed in the final round of the challenge in San Diego.
“The seed money provided to entrepreneurs through the challenge will help them take their businesses to the next level, which can make a huge difference in small rural communities,” said Jeff Reid, founding director of the Georgetown Entrepreneurship Initiative.
The awards were handed out during AFBF’s 96th Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show in San Diego.