General Information
The contest will offer up to two $10,000 awards to the top contestants in each category and finalists will receive a $1,000 award. The application will open on May 1, 2026, and all applications are to be completed by midnight on June 30, 2026, 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 979-822-3018 ext. 7879.
ELIGIBILITY - Trailblazer Award Category
- Applicant must be 18 years of age or older as of June 30, 2026.
- Applicant must be an existing or former Capital Farm Credit customer.
- Applicant must have two-ten years of experience in farming, ranching or owning their own agribusiness. Applicant must grow/produce an agricultural commodity for profit.
- Applicant can apply as an individual or with a business partner.
- If applicant applies as a partnership and is selected as a recipient, the cash prize will be awarded to the primary applicant.
- Applicants are eligible for one $10,000 Capital Farm Credit GROW your AgriRoots Trailblazer Award during a three-year period of time. Once an applicant has won the Trailblazer Award, a minimum of three years must be skipped before that applicant applies 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.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS - Trailblazer Award Category
All applications MUST be submitted online. A completed application consists of the following:
- Intent to apply through Survey Monkey Applied registration
- Biography and contact information
- Essay application
- Completed Financial Documents: Business Plan, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow Projection and Profit and Loss Statement (CFC templates required)
- Completed W-9
- High-resolution photo (.jpg or .png)
- Incomplete applications will not be accepted or reviewed.
Incomplete applications will not be accepted and applicants submitting incomplete applications will not be contacted. If you have any questions about this competition or application, please call 979-822-3018 ext. 7879 and ask for Allyson Tjoelker
ELIGIBILITY - Rising Star Award Category
- Applicant must be 18 years of age or older as of June 30, 2026.
- Applicant must be a beginning farmer, rancher or agribusiness owner with two years or less experience in managing their own agricultural operation or be in the process of starting an operation within the calendar year as of June 30, 2026. Applicant must grow/produce or intend to grow/produce an agricultural commodity for profit.
- Applicant does not need to be an existing or former Capital Farm Credit customer.
- Applicant must reside within Capital Farm Credit’s territory, or the operation’s headquarters must be located within Capital Farm Credit’s territory.
- Applicant may apply as an individual or with a business partner.
- If applicant applies as a partnership and is selected as a recipient, the cash prize will be awarded to the primary applicant.
- Applicants are only eligible to receive one $10,000 Capital Farm Credit GROW your AgriRoots Rising Star Award. Once an applicant wins the $10,000 Rising Star Award, they become ineligible to compete in that category but may compete in the GROW your AgriRoots Trailblazer Award Category if all other eligibility criteria are met.
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.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS - Rising Star Award Category
All applications MUST be submitted online. A completed application consists of the following:
- Intent to Apply through Survey Monkey Applied registration
- Emerging Leaders Institute Certificate
- Biography and contact information
- Essay application
- Completed Business Plan, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow Projection (CFC templates required)
- Completed W-9
- High-resolution photo (.jpg or .png)
- Incomplete applications will not be accepted or reviewed.
Note: The Emerging Leaders Institute (ELI)is an online, self-paced training series developed to help producers strengthen their business and financial skills. The full series takes an estimated four hours to complete and support applicants in developing a business plan, balance sheet, and profit and loss statements. Once an applicant submits the intent to apply, that applicant will receive access to ELI. Upon completion of ELI, the applicant will receive an official certificate.
Incomplete applications will not be accepted and applicants submitting incomplete applications will not be contacted. If you have any questions about this competition or application, please call 979-822-3018 ext. 7879 and ask for Allyson Tjoelker.
JUDGING CRITERIA - Trailblazer and Rising Star Award
Phase One
An independent panel of qualified judges will review all of the applications and select finalists to move 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 Business Growth: 30 points
- Business and Financial Character: 20 points
- Leadership & Community Involvement: 15 points
- Continuing Education Programs, Courses or Training: 15 points
- Innovation: 10 points
- Spelling and Grammar and Overall Presentation: 10
- Total: 100 points
Phase Two
The applicants selected as finalists will receive an invitation to participate in an in-person interview with the judging selection committee to answer questions and give further context to their application.
In person interviews will be held on July 21st and 22nd at the Capital Farm Credit Headquarters (3902 South Traditions Drive, College Station, TX 77845). Interviewees will be asked to provide a 15 minute sales pitch to judges. The purpose of the pitch is for finalists to showcase creativity, innovation and business acumen, while explaining how the award money would be utilized to improve operations. Guidelines for the sales pitch will be provided to finalists in advance of the interview. Finalists should be prepared to present a power point presentation. Finalists will receive travel and lodging reimbursement to attend the judging in person.
During the interview process, only the named applicant(s) and/or partners are permitted into the interview. No guests will be granted access to the interview.
2026 GROW Your AgriRoots Award Contest
General Information
The contest will offer up to two $10,000 awards to the top contestants in each category and finalists will receive a $1,000 award. The application will open on May 1, 2026, and all applications are to be completed by midnight on June 30, 2026, 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 979-822-3018 ext. 7879.
ELIGIBILITY - Trailblazer Award Category
- Applicant must be 18 years of age or older as of June 30, 2026.
- Applicant must be an existing or former Capital Farm Credit customer.
- Applicant must have two-ten years of experience in farming, ranching or owning their own agribusiness. Applicant must grow/produce an agricultural commodity for profit.
- Applicant can apply as an individual or with a business partner.
- If applicant applies as a partnership and is selected as a recipient, the cash prize will be awarded to the primary applicant.
- Applicants are eligible for one $10,000 Capital Farm Credit GROW your AgriRoots Trailblazer Award during a three-year period of time. Once an applicant has won the Trailblazer Award, a minimum of three years must be skipped before that applicant applies 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.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS - Trailblazer Award Category
All applications MUST be submitted online. A completed application consists of the following:
- Intent to apply through Survey Monkey Applied registration
- Biography and contact information
- Essay application
- Completed Financial Documents: Business Plan, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow Projection and Profit and Loss Statement (CFC templates required)
- Completed W-9
- High-resolution photo (.jpg or .png)
- Incomplete applications will not be accepted or reviewed.
Incomplete applications will not be accepted and applicants submitting incomplete applications will not be contacted. If you have any questions about this competition or application, please call 979-822-3018 ext. 7879 and ask for Allyson Tjoelker
ELIGIBILITY - Rising Star Award Category
- Applicant must be 18 years of age or older as of June 30, 2026.
- Applicant must be a beginning farmer, rancher or agribusiness owner with two years or less experience in managing their own agricultural operation or be in the process of starting an operation within the calendar year as of June 30, 2026. Applicant must grow/produce or intend to grow/produce an agricultural commodity for profit.
- Applicant does not need to be an existing or former Capital Farm Credit customer.
- Applicant must reside within Capital Farm Credit’s territory, or the operation’s headquarters must be located within Capital Farm Credit’s territory.
- Applicant may apply as an individual or with a business partner.
- If applicant applies as a partnership and is selected as a recipient, the cash prize will be awarded to the primary applicant.
- Applicants are only eligible to receive one $10,000 Capital Farm Credit GROW your AgriRoots Rising Star Award. Once an applicant wins the $10,000 Rising Star Award, they become ineligible to compete in that category but may compete in the GROW your AgriRoots Trailblazer Award Category if all other eligibility criteria are met.
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.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS - Rising Star Award Category
All applications MUST be submitted online. A completed application consists of the following:
- Intent to Apply through Survey Monkey Applied registration
- Emerging Leaders Institute Certificate
- Biography and contact information
- Essay application
- Completed Business Plan, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow Projection (CFC templates required)
- Completed W-9
- High-resolution photo (.jpg or .png)
- Incomplete applications will not be accepted or reviewed.
Note: The Emerging Leaders Institute (ELI)is an online, self-paced training series developed to help producers strengthen their business and financial skills. The full series takes an estimated four hours to complete and support applicants in developing a business plan, balance sheet, and profit and loss statements. Once an applicant submits the intent to apply, that applicant will receive access to ELI. Upon completion of ELI, the applicant will receive an official certificate.
Incomplete applications will not be accepted and applicants submitting incomplete applications will not be contacted. If you have any questions about this competition or application, please call 979-822-3018 ext. 7879 and ask for Allyson Tjoelker.
JUDGING CRITERIA - Trailblazer and Rising Star Award
Phase One
An independent panel of qualified judges will review all of the applications and select finalists to move 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 Business Growth: 30 points
- Business and Financial Character: 20 points
- Leadership & Community Involvement: 15 points
- Continuing Education Programs, Courses or Training: 15 points
- Innovation: 10 points
- Spelling and Grammar and Overall Presentation: 10
- Total: 100 points
Phase Two
The applicants selected as finalists will receive an invitation to participate in an in-person interview with the judging selection committee to answer questions and give further context to their application.
In person interviews will be held on July 21st and 22nd at the Capital Farm Credit Headquarters (3902 South Traditions Drive, College Station, TX 77845). Interviewees will be asked to provide a 15 minute sales pitch to judges. The purpose of the pitch is for finalists to showcase creativity, innovation and business acumen, while explaining how the award money would be utilized to improve operations. Guidelines for the sales pitch will be provided to finalists in advance of the interview. Finalists should be prepared to present a power point presentation. Finalists will receive travel and lodging reimbursement to attend the judging in person.
During the interview process, only the named applicant(s) and/or partners are permitted into the interview. No guests will be granted access to the interview.