Applications open for 2026 Growing Tomorrow Grant for Ohio farmers

Applications opened for the 2026 Growing Tomorrow Grant, a program that could award up to $100,000 to help Ohio’s next generation of farmers and ag entrepreneurs turn promising ideas into working businesses. That matters in Adams County, where farming still shapes the economy and the landscape: the county’s 2022 USDA profile counted 1,100 farms, $58.0 million in commodity sales and about 170,805 agricultural acres.

The grant is aimed at early-stage operators who need help getting a project off the ground, whether that means a new tool, a farm business plan, an educational program or an environmental stewardship effort. Ohio Farm Bureau says eligible projects can also focus on rural economic opportunities and other efforts that strengthen local communities, a broad fit for family farms, FFA alumni and young farmers looking to build something that stays rooted here.

In Adams County, that pool of potential applicants is easy to picture. The county’s farm sales are weighted heavily toward crops, which made up 68% of agricultural sales in the latest profile, while livestock, poultry and products accounted for 32%. The land base also shows how varied the farm economy is, with 26,894 acres of cropland, 50,241 acres of pastureland and 9,928 acres of woodland.

The program was created through the vision and generosity of Mike Boyert and Patti Boyert of Medina County, who drew on their own experience starting, growing and sustaining a farm business. Ohio Farm Bureau says the fund was designed to inspire, encourage and nurture young professionals and entrepreneurs as they look for creative ways to address agriculture’s challenges and deepen public understanding of farming.

Kelly Burns, who has served as executive director of the Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation since April 2020, said the organization has long focused on creating opportunities for young agricultural professionals. The foundation has also said the hardest barrier for many young ag entrepreneurs is often financial, making startup capital one of the biggest hurdles between a good idea and a real operation.

The timeline gives applicants a clear runway. Applications remain open through July 31, 2026. The top three finalists will be notified in September and invited to present business plans to judges, and recipients will be announced Dec. 11 at the 108th Ohio Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting.

Support for the grant has also been built to last. Farm Credit Mid-America committed $250,000 over five years to help sustain the program, and the 2025 grant was backed by Nationwide Foundation. For Adams County’s next generation of producers, that kind of backing could help turn a first project into the kind of farm business that stays local and grows over time.