Application Evaluation and Review:

•     This is a competitive application with a limited number of available awards.

•     A panel of agriculture professionals perform a blind review of the applications, without identifying information.

•     Applicants who do not receive an award are encouraged to re-apply the following year with an updated application.

•     Past recipients may re-apply for new projects.

In 2026, Award Amounts (based on farmer requests) ranged from $700 to $2,500. The following projects are examples of award winners:

For a full list of projects and award winners, click here.

• Farm stands

• Farm stand refrigerators unless also used for cold storage

• Delivery vehicles

• General maintenance

• Hiring staff

• Marketing & signage

• Purchasing livestock, plants, or seeds

• Labeling machines (unless required for compliance regulations)

• Fertilizer or pesticides

• Equipment for clearing the land, excavation

• Solely cosmetic farm improvements

• Single use supplies

• Explain why the proposed project is critical or valuable to your farm's future (for example: how it will help increase production and/or sales, improve efficiency, and reduce costs.)

• If possible, provide quantitative information on how the project will provide a return on investment.

• Explain why an award of up to $2500 will make a difference even if the project has a very large price tag

• Describe the issue or obstacle you are facing and how this project will help.

• Be descriptive — tell a story. Use words like “For example...”

• Keep your project proposal as central to the core agriculture process as possible.