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Student Spotlight: Student Entrepreneur Zach Neal Wins $500K in Grow-NY Competition
Zachary Neal and his father Jody Neal
Roberts Wesleyan University junior Zachary Neal (Business) won $500,000 at the 2024 Grow-NY Food, Agriculture & Technology Summit for UdderWays, a startup he co-founded with his father and brother that's revolutionizing dairy farming. They own a 600-cow dairy farm in Albion, N.Y. They received the award on Nov. 8 after the completion of the Grow-NY Food, Agriculture & Technology Summit.
Grow-NY is in its sixth year. The competition attracted 312 applicants from 50 countries, including Canada, the UK, and Italy, and 89 entries from New York. Winners now turn to executing their plans in New York state, fostering job growth and leveraging the regional connections made during the competition. For Neal, his next steps will focus on the company's innovative brushless technology provides consistent stimulation for more efficient milk production in dairy cows.
The finalist teams were provided with expert mentorship and guidance as they developed their business plans leading up to the Summit. During the event, they presented their pitches to a panel of seven judges with expertise in agriculture, food production and venture development.
Congratulations to Zach for his innovation in dairy farming and for winning a major ag-tech award!
Read the orleanshub.com story