Young entrepreneurs shine at Grow-NY youth agribusiness competition

Featuring young innovators from across New York state, the youth competition provides a platform for students to pitch their ideas to a panel of expert judges and compete for $7,000 in prize money provided by Taste New York, a program of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. 

A collaborative effort between Cornell Cooperative Extension, New York State 4-H, New York Future Farmers of America, and New York Agriculture in the Classroom, the Grow-NY youth event also included pitch preparation sessions; a cheese-making workshop conducted by Dr. Bruno Xavier, associate director of the Cornell Food Venture Center; and networking opportunities with industry professionals. 

“The Grow-NY Youth Competition provides a stage for students to practice their critical thinking skills and develop the ability to look at the world as problem solvers,” said Katie Carpenter, director of New York Agriculture in the Classroom.

“It’s exciting to see how young entrepreneurs are investing not only in growing their businesses but also intentionally contributing to our communities and the natural world through their agriculture and food systems innovations,” said Alexa Maille, interim New York State 4-H program leader and competition judge. 

The second-place prize of $2,000 went to BeeSafe, a project by Jericho High School students Summer Malick, Samantha Woltman, and Clay Beer. BeeSafe is a product designed to prevent wax moths from infesting beehives using a trap lamp that repels moths while maintaining bee health.  

The third-place prize of $1,000 was awarded to Coconana, developed by Aiden Melendez, Daniel Pimentel, and Ramel Defran from All Hallows High School in the Bronx, N.Y. Coconana focuses on creating biodegradable packaging from agricultural waste like banana peels, coconut husks, and orange peels, offering an eco-friendly alternative to traditional plastics.