Entrepreneurs Needed to Rise to the Challenge! 

The Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge is a national business competition that showcases U.S. startups developing innovative solutions that address challenges facing America’s farmers, ranchers and rural communities. The Challenge was the first national business competition of its kind focused exclusively on rural entrepreneurs.

Now in their eleventh year, the American Farm Bureau Federation in partnership with Farm Credit, are looking to identify the top entrepreneurs who are addressing both traditional challenges farmers face on their operation, such as access to labor, optimizing yield and reducing operating costs, to entrepreneurs who are addressing new challenges facing farmers and rural communities.

The overall winner of the competition will receive $100,000 in startup funds, the runner-up will be awarded $25,000 and two additional business owners who advance to the final four round will receive $10,000.

Farm Bureau is offering a total of $145,000 in startup funds throughout the course of the competition. After the application period closes, 10 semi-finalist teams will be selected and announced on Sept. 3. Next, the 10 semi-finalist teams will pitch virtually to compete for a spot in the final four round of the contest.

To register please visit: https://www.fb.org/initiative/ag-innovation-challenge

Business Spotlight!

Each Month we will spotlight a different Goochland Business!

C. Forbes Inc.

Located in West Creek, this woman-owned small business has extraordinary reach in the federal government, designing promo materials we see on the news, at awards ceremonies, and on Christmas trees. C. Forbes, Inc. is a high-end promotional product designer and manufacturer founded in 1998 by Chip Forbes. The company is now run by Chip’s wife, Sharon, and their son Sam. 

The bread-and-butter products for C. Forbes, Inc. are their collector medallions and coins. C. Forbes, Inc. is now working with their 6th presidential administration to design and deliver the President’s personal challenge coin. Alongside these coins, the White House often relies on C. Forbes Inc to provide the President’s personal executive gifts. C. Forbes has designed thousands of other coins for various federal agencies to celebrate accomplishments. Some of the most recognizable are the coins they design for the President to hand out to Olympic Athletes and members of the United States Men’s and Women’s National Soccer Team who compete in the World Cup. They have recently partnered with Ruger Firearms and TALO Distributors to design a coin that has been installed into the stock of a limited edition rifle. These rifles will be sold to raise funds for the American Shooting Competitors at the 2024 Olympics (here is a link to their blog about this project: https://www.cforbesinc.com/?p=34935).

In addition to coins, another well-known items they have designed are the Christmas ornaments for the President and Vice President, most recently designing an ornament for Vice President Harris. 

Some of their regular customers at the federal level include the Department of Homeland Security, the Smithsonian, the World War I monument, and the planned Women’s Suffrage National Monument. For these customers, C. Forbes, Inc. provides a variety of services. 

C. Forbes, Inc. focuses on the art and design of their various products, leaving much of the manufacturing to one of its many trusted business partners, providing their customers with the option of having their materials produced domestically or internationally. Having just celebrated their 25th anniversary, C. Forbes, Inc. has found immense success in a niche market. While they are a small, family-owned business here in Goochland, their dedication to quality and customization has ensured that their products are seen across the country and the globe.

You can visit them online at https://www.cforbesinc.com/ 

 Explore Goochland!

Alvis farms sunflower festival

50 acres of sunflowers is something you don't want to miss!!! ?????????? That's equal to just under 40 football fields worth of yellow beauties- come check it out for yourself June 21-23 (9am-8pm each day) at the 6th annual Sunflower Festival at Alvis Farms!! Tickets available at alvisfarmsva.com