Rewarding the Next Generation of Agriculture

Are you a young, beginning, or small (YBS) farmer working hard to be outstanding in your field? Then you should apply for a GROW your AgriRoots award for a chance at a $10,000 prize! 

Capital Farm Credit is hosting the inaugural GROW your AgriRoots award competition for young, beginning, or small (YBS) agricultural operators. This award program was created to honor outstanding farm and agribusiness owner-operators within the agricultural community, who excel in their field. Selection of winners are based on their efforts in agriculture, financial character, leadership, community involvement, participation in continuing education or training and sustainability practices.   


The program will offer up to two $10,000 awards to the top contestants.

The application will close on September 29, 2023. All applications must be received online on or before midnight on September 29, 2023, to be eligible for the awards.

Incomplete applications will not be accepted and applicants submitting incomplete applications will not be contacted. If you have any questions about this program or application, please call 979-822-7879 and ask for Allyson Tjoelker. 

Deadline to apply is September 29, 2023.  



Eligibility   

• Applicants must be an existing or former Capital Farm Credit customer to be eligible to apply.
• Applicants must fit into at least one of the following categories: 1. Between 18 and 35 years of age / 2. Operate a farm, ranch or agribusiness with annual gross ag income less than $250,000 / 3. Or a beginning farmer with at least one-year of experience, but no more than 10 years of farming experience. 
• In order to be eligible, you must reside within Capital Farm Credit's territory. 
• The applicant can apply as an individual or with a business partner.
• If you apply as a partnership and are selected as a recipient, the cash prize will be awarded to the primary applicant. 
• Applicants will only be eligible for one Captial Farm Credit GROW your AgriRoots award during a 12-month period of time. A minimum of one-year must be skipped before applying again.
• Officers, Directors, and employees of the Sponsor, Capital Farm Credit, and their subsidiaries, affiliates, their agents, press/media representatives, and the immediate family members of these entities are not eligible to enter. Family means an individual and spouse and anyone having the following relationship to either: parents, spouse, son, daughter, sibling, stepparent, stepson, stepdaughter, stepbrother, stepsister, half-brother, half-sister, grandparent, grandson, granddaughter, and the spouse of the foregoing and/or those living in the same household of each.

How will applications be judged?

An independent panel of qualified judges will review all of the applications and select the top 8 finalists moving onto phase two of the judging process.  

Each application in phase one will be evaluated based on the following criteria to achieve a score out of 100 possible points:

• Agriculture and Growth: 30 points
• Financial Character: 20 points
• Leadership & Community Involvement: 15 points
• Continued Education Programs, Courses or Training: 15 points
• Sustainability Practices: 10 points
• Spelling and Grammar and Overall Presentation: 10 points
• Total: 100 points

The applicants selected as the top 8 finalists will receive an invitation to participate in an in-person or virtual interview with the judging selection committee to answer questions and give further context to their application. 

Interviews will be held on October 25th. In person interviews will be held in Bryan, TX.  Interviews will be no longer than 30 minutes in length and are intended for the applicant to provide additional details and clarification regarding their application and for the judging committee to ask questions. Finalists are eligible for travel reimbursement to attend the judging in person. 

During the interview process, only the named applicant(s) is permitted into the interview. No guests will be granted access to the interview. No access to audio visual/PowerPoint/Prezi will be supported during the interview process.   

Each application in phase two will be evaluated based on the following interview selection criteria values:

• Introduction: 20 points  
• Ability to explain application and answer interview questions: 60 points  
• Professional appearance: 20 points  
• Total: 100 points  
  
  

Required Documents

• Completed Application.
• High resolution photo (.jpg or .png) 
• Letter of Recommendation. The letter must include the contact's name, title, address, email address, phone number, and relationship to the applicant. Family members, Farm Credit staff, or Farm Credit directors are not eligible to write letter of recommendation.

Fill out the application form and attach the following required documentation: 

• Completed Application
• Letter of Recommendation - Must include your name, title, address, email, and phone number.
• Applicants without existing operating loans with Capital Farm Credit may be asked to provide additional financial information to complete application. 

Incomplete applications will not be accepted and applicants submitting incomplete applications will not be contacted. If you have any questions about this program or application, please call 979-822-7879 and ask for Allyson Tjoelker.