SmartAg4.0 started in 2016 with the idea of offering a "hack-a-thon" style event for students passionate about issues in agriculture. For the first two years, the event focused on students developing a wireframe app in one of four domain topics. Now, SmartAg4.0 has evolved to encourage all kinds of tech innovation in ag, whether it be through apps, hardware, or software. The mission of SmartAg4.0 is not to come out of the competition with a functioning product, but to leave the event with a collaborative and innovative idea and the ability to pitch that idea to the ag industry. From there, SmartAg4.0 encourages students to take their idea to the next level and continue to pursue innovation.
How it works
On the day of the event, all you need to do is bring an idea and a laptop or smart device. We'll start Friday evening hearing from speakers about our domain topics, the dairy industry, and how technology and innovation are transforming agriculture at large. Then, you'll learn how to pitch your idea to the judges. Typically, you will have free reign as to what you'll be pitching at the end of the competition (are you proposing an app, a business plan, hardware ideas, software packages, etc). Once you learn more about the topics and the outcome of the competition, you will form your teams. Bring your friends or make new ones at the event!
From there, you have the rest of the evening and the next morning to work on your idea! Judges and mentors will visit your team to help you polish your idea or offer additional perspective. Throughout the evening, you'll also be able to attend spark sessions featuring optional speakers and we'll be drawing door prizes!
After lunch on Saturday, the judging begins! Teams in each domain area will pitch to their panel of experts. Each panel will then determine a winner for each domain area. The domain topic winners will then pitch their idea to all participants and judges, who will then decide the overall winner!
What participants receive:
Each participant in SmartAg4.0 2018 will recieve:
- An event t-shirt at the time of registration
- One BOGO coupon for Chipotle (for the first 100 registrants)
- Dinner on Friday night, catered by City BBQ
- Breakfast on Saturday morning, catered by Bob Evans
- Lunch on Saturday, catered by TBD
- Entered into the pool to win one of our door prizes
Prizes
At SmartAg4.0, we want everyone to leave the competition feeling like a winner! In addition to the items above that everyone receives from the event, participants also have the opportunity to win the following prizes:
- Top Team in a Domain Topic
- Each team member will recieve a $150 Amazon gift card
- People's Choice
- All students have a vote for "People's Choice," where each member of one of the top 4 teams will win an additional $50 Amazon gift card
- Top Team Overall
- Each team member will receieve an additional $100 Amazon gift card
In addition to prizes for our top teams, participants will all be entered into door prize drawings that will take place throughout the competition. Door prizes include:
- more information coming soon!