AgYield NextGen Foundation names inaugural scholarship winners

By AI, Created 11:36 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – The AgYield NextGen Foundation awarded $30,000 in scholarships to five students after its first national competition, which challenged more than 40 universities to manage a simulated crop season using real market and weather data. Iowa students took the top two spots in the Spring 2026 contest.

Why it matters: - The inaugural competition is designed to close a skills gap in agriculture by training students on financial decision-making, risk management and market strategy. - The Foundation says donated funds go directly to student scholarships and expansion of the national competition. - The program aims to prepare future agricultural leaders for the financial realities that can determine whether a farm operation survives or thrives.

What happened: - The AgYield NextGen Foundation announced the winners of its Spring 2026 National Scholarship Competition on May 7, 2026. - The competition drew students from more than 40 universities nationwide. - Participants managed a simulated full crop season over 36 weeks using live market data, USDA crop reports and weather events. - Students made decisions across futures, options, cash contracts and crop insurance policies. - The competition awarded $30,000 in scholarships to five finishers.

The details: - Wyatt Lovelady of Iowa State University won first place and a $12,150 scholarship after finishing with a portfolio value of $442,046.45, the highest score in the field. - Forrest Inness of the University of Iowa took second place and received a $7,290 scholarship with a final score of $377,295.15. - Trace Kopper of Tabor College placed third and earned a $4,590 scholarship. - Derek Goth of Iowa State University finished fourth and received a $3,240 scholarship. - Ruth Beery of Wilmington College finished fifth and received a $2,730 scholarship. - Iowa schools claimed the top two spots in the national competition. - Participants came from universities including Iowa State, the University of Iowa, Ohio State, Purdue, North Dakota State, the University of Illinois, Washington State, Virginia Tech and Illinois State. - The AgYield Simulator powered the competition using AgYield’s market data and risk management expertise. - AgYield NextGen Foundation was founded by Justin Kelly, AgYield’s CEO and managing partner, and is headquartered in Oak Brook, Ill. - The Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Between the lines: - The competition signals growing demand for agricultural training that goes beyond agronomy and includes finance and market discipline. - Kelly said the Foundation was created after AgYield identified students who understood agronomy but had little practical exposure to the financial side of a real season. - Dan Dempsey, AgYield’s director of sales and business development and a Foundation board member, said the first competition exceeded expectations and showed strong demand from students and universities. - The focus on live market inputs suggests the Foundation wants the contest to feel closer to real farm decision-making than a typical classroom exercise.

What’s next: - The AgYield NextGen Foundation plans its inaugural charity golf outing for July 27, 2026, at Aurora Country Club. - Sponsorships and foursomes are still available. - The Foundation is seeking donors, agricultural industry partners and educational institutions to support scholarships and expand the competition. - More information, donations and registration are available at the Foundation’s website. - AgYield’s corporate website is the company’s site.

The bottom line: - AgYield NextGen’s first national scholarship contest turned crop-season simulation into a talent pipeline for financially literate agricultural leaders.