Grow-NY Youth Competition

Calling all youth food system and technology entrepreneurs!

In partnership with Grow-NY, Cornell University, NYS 4-H, New York FFA, and New York Agriculture in the Classroom, we are pleased to share an exciting youth opportunity to build businesses in New York State.

Our youth are the next generation of business developers, agriculture, food, and technology leaders. With the hope of inspiring and investing in the future of food, select middle and high school youth will be chosen to attend the Grow-NY competition. Outstanding students will be selected to pitch their business idea during the competition to a panel of judges.

The Grow-NY competition takes place in November each year. Information about your current business plan or business idea will be required to be considered for this experience. One winner will be selected amongst the pitches by a panel of judges. The top pitches will be awarded a cash prize.

Application Information

Applications for 2024 are now closed. Please check back in Spring of 2025 for the 2025 application.

Eligibility

New York State youth enrolled in middle or high school at the time of the competition are eligible to apply, including public, private, and home schools.

• Learn more about the Grow-NY competition
• Contact Sarah Hale at s.hale@cornell.edu for questions or program clarification

Contest date: November 6-7, 2024
Ithaca, NY
Applications due on October 1, 2024

Apply to Bring Students to the Grow-NY Competition

New York Agriculture in the Classroom is offering the opportunity for students to attend the Grow-NY Competition so that they may see firsthand the innovative ideas, entrepreneurial spirit, and for the first time, attend a student-centered workshop. Space is limited so plan to apply early to secure spots for your students. Students selected to pitch in the Youth Contest will receive complimentary registration and need not apply to attend.

Please use this Excel form for your application.

Youth Workshop

Join Dr. Bruno Xavier, Associate Director of the Cornell Food Venture Center, Cornell AgriTech Senior Extension Associate for Food Science, a passionate scientist, for an exciting workshop on cheese!

Not only will you learn how to make "minas" a fresh Brazilian specialty cheese, but Dr. Bruno will also share his inspiring journey in food science and take you behind the scenes of food production. This workshop is multi-dimensional and will explore the fascinating world of germs and how they play a role in making safe, tasty foods. Bruno will talk about components of milk’s components—proteins, fats, and sugars—and explore how each contributes to the perfect cheese.

This workshop experience will spark curiosity and a deeper understanding of the food we eat every day.

Prizes

All prizes are intended for business or education expenses and were sponsored by Taste New York, a New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets program.

• First place: $3,000
• Second place: $2,000
• Third place: $1,000

Project-Based Learning

This optional project-based learning experience can be used to help implement the Grow-NY Youth Competition concepts in your classroom or club.

View the Past Award Winners

Check out the impressive entrepreneurs from past Grow-NY Youth Competitions.