Grand Farm

The initiative is spearheaded by Emerging Prairie, a non-profit organization co-founded by Greg Tehven, dedicated to fostering the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Dr. William Aderholdt serves as the Executive Director, having been the first person hired for the initiative in 2019. The concept quickly gained traction, and by 2018, local business and civic leaders rallied behind the idea. A significant milestone occurred when local AgTech business owners Kevin and Stacey Biffert donated land for a test site. Ground was broken in the spring of 2019, an event attended by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue.

Grand Farm operates as a collaborative platform, bringing together a diverse network of growers, technology companies, corporations, startups, researchers, and policymakers. Its primary service is providing a real-world environment for partners to test, validate, and demonstrate new agricultural technologies. The business model is not based on taking ownership of intellectual property developed on its sites; instead, it fosters an open ecosystem for innovation. Funding comes from a mix of public and private investments, including a $1.5 million pledge from Microsoft in 2019 and a $10 million matching grant from the North Dakota Legislature and State Department of Commerce in 2022.

The core of Grand Farm's operation is its Innovation Campus, located west of Casselton, North Dakota, which has expanded to a 590-acre site. This campus serves as a collaborative hub for field trials and technology demonstrations. The Innovation Shop, the first building on campus, opened in May 2024 and includes event space for 300 people, shop space for partners to work on equipment, and areas for demonstrations. Grand Farm facilitates projects focused on autonomous farming equipment, robotics, sensor technology, and farm management software to help growers address challenges like labor shortages and rising costs. The initiative has expanded its reach, with teams starting in Georgia and Montana, and aims to be a global leader in AgTech innovation.