Grow Your Future finalists competing for $10,000 top prize in Farm Bureau contest

Bushels & Blooms, Hightail and Little Sioux Stems are competing for $10,000 top prize in Farm Bureau contest.

Farm innovation will take center stage later this month at the Iowa Farm Bureau Young Farmer Conference, where three Iowa farm-based businesses will compete head-to-head in a live pitch-off for a chance to win a $10,000 top prize.

Little Sioux Stems of Dickinson County, Hightail of Bremer County and Bushels & Blooms of Wapello County are the 2026 Grow Your Future finalists. Public voting in December narrowed the field of eight contestants to the final three.

Iowa Farm Bureau's Grow Your Future competition supports young farmer entrepreneurs ages 18-35 who are building niche businesses in rural Iowa in

specialty products and services and agritourism. Finalists will pitch their proposals Jan. 24 during the Young Farmer Conference at the Community Choice Convention Center in Des Moines, with winners determined by a combination of judges' scores and audience votes.

First place earns $10,000, second place $5,000 and third place $2,500.

"The applicants are once again incredibly impressive this year," said Amanda Van Steenwyk, Iowa Farm Bureau farm business development manager. "Each of these finalists has truly earned their place, and I'm excited to watch their progress - not only through this award process, but as their businesses continue to grow well beyond it."

Bushels & Blooms

Rachel Irwin of Bushels & Blooms added a cut-flower farmstand to her family's row-crop and cattle operation in memory of her parents, who died in 2023, honoring her mother's love of flowers. She also sells locally produced eggs, apples, pumpkins and tallow, with plans to expand into a farm store and event space.

"Being named a finalist feels like affirmation that the work we are doing matters, both for our family and our community," she said. "This recognition gives us another platform to share our story, elevate the importance of agriculture and continue growing our operation so we can better serve rural Iowa for generations to come."

Irwin said while the farm's foundation is traditional row crops, hay and cattle, she wanted to diversify in a way that invites the community onto the farm.

"Over time, our mission has evolved from simply producing crops to creating a place where agriculture is personal, accessible and experienced - where our community can see, taste and take part in the farm," she said.

If awarded the top prize, Irwin said the investment would help expand her existing farmstand into a fully established farm store with consistent hours and expanded capacity, including refrigerated space for beef and other products.

"Success also means staying innovative ... finding creative ways to bring agriculture to people in a way that is meaningful, memorable and community-building ... while honoring the legacy of family farms," she said.

Hightail

Natalie Paino of Hightail sells ice cream and cheese curds direct to consumers, at local events and through retailers.

She started the business as an Iowa State University freshman and in 2021 purchased a grant-funded 45-foot creamery container that milks two cows.

Most milk in the U.S. is sold in bulk to processors, Paino said, giving farmers little control over price. Adding value through on-farm processing can help create a more sustainable long-term return for dairies, she said.

"While that outcome remains at the forefront, the journey of starting my own creamery has made me realize the need for mentorship when it comes to small milk-processing operations within the state," she said. "If I can help others along the way, I have every intention of doing so."

Paino said being named a finalist has encouraged her to share her story more broadly and think about how her business can continue to connect people with agriculture.

"In December, I hosted my first holiday party where women from various communities joined together for a night of fellowship, making a festive porch pot and enjoying a charcuterie spread featuring my cheese curds," she said. "It was a great success ... I would love to continue offering more opportunities like that alongside educational workshops."

If she wins the top prize, Paino said she hopes to add a farm store to better serve customers and support other local producers.

"My business model has relied on pre-orders due to the lack of a storefront, and while that has worked well, I'd love to serve people who want to simply stop by," she said. "A farm store would also allow me to support other producers, especially those associated with the Choose Iowa brand."

Little Sioux Stems

Jennifer Twaiten-Kraninger of Little Sioux Stems sells specialty cut flowers through markets, subscriptions, a mobile flower bar and local partners, along with U-pick opportunities, tours and workshops that draw up to 1,500 visitors each year. She plans to add a permanent structure to support year-round events, weddings, farm-to-table dinners and expanded retail.

"We have a wide spread of customers from all over Iowa," Twaiten-Kraninger said.

Twaiten-Kraninger said a major focus of the farm is helping visitors better understand where their food and flowers come from.

"When they visit the farm, I explain what we do - from mixing our own animal feed to amending soil, starting plants from seed and harvesting," she said. Seeing it in person helps people understand the work and care that go into farming.

Community support plays a central role in the farm's success.

"We love giving back by donating leftover flowers to local nursing homes and daycares and by teaching educational courses not offered anywhere else in our community," she said.

Winning the top prize would allow planning to move forward on an event building.

"The building would create space for larger gatherings, weddings, classes and farm-to-table dinners ... further expanding our agritourism capabilities and and produce greater income," she said.

Looking ahead, Twaiten-Kraninger envisions continued growth in hosting both public and private events, expanding horticulture classes and offering more opportunities for families and children to engage with the farm.

"Mostly, I see us getting to do what we love with the gardens and the animals, while encouraging income that will make a big difference to our family and our operation," she said.