There’s a new way to get the name of a Fortune 200 company on your resume. It’s not an internship (though we have those, too) -- it’s a brand-new case competition. We’re looking for your project ideas related to food, agriculture or sustainability that will improve your community. And if you win, we’ll provide money to help grow and cultivate your seed of an idea.
The new Land O’Lakes’ program, Cultivate Community sponsored by the Global Food Challenge, was created because we know that feeding the world won’t be possible unless we all start working together today.

The project that you pitch to us could be something already in motion -- maybe your ag club’s hydroponics plant needs an e-bike to transport its produce to the dining halls. Or it could be a new piece of innovation, like an app that helps students track where their food comes from. Maybe it’s starting a composting program in your dorms. The sky’s the limit. 
The important thing is to tell us what this idea could do for your community. And you define community: your campus, a group or team, or your hometown. As a farmer-owned cooperative with roots across rural America and its cities, there’s nothing more important to us than working together for the common good.
Has your figurative light bulb gone off? Great! Here are the three main things you need to know about the competition:

It’s open to any college student(s) pursuing a 4-year-degree*

It doesn’t matter what school you are from, your year in school or if you have a background in ag. We’re looking for all ideas: from computer science to supply chain to agronomy to music. Tell us how your skills, passion and idea can make a difference.
Students can submit as an individual or a group (or on behalf of a designated school club)– but all submissions need an academic advisor. Hit up that professor who is always asking students to come to office hours. Or reach out to someone whose research really aligns with your great idea.
*Must be undergraduate post-secondary student(s) currently enrolled in a 4-year college or university and, unfortunately, if you’ve interned with us before at Land O’Lakes or as an Emerging Leader with the Global Food Challenge, you’ll have to sit this one out. But be sure to tell your friends and on-campus student groups!

The prize will be money to get your project off the ground

One first place idea will receive $1,000 and one honorable mention idea will receive $500. That money can be used in the way that will be most helpful to your project and just needs to be laid out in the budget you submit as part of your pitch.

The deadline is April 22 -- so you should start your application ASAP

Watch some quick (and fun) videos about the farmer-to-fork journey, create your own short video summary and develop a project plan. Want to learn how to submit? Go here.
We can’t wait to see what you come up with. Let’s work together to create something great.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. The "Cultivate Community Global Food Challenge Contest" is open only to individuals, groups, or members of a designated college/university group that are undergraduate post-secondary student(s) currently enrolled in a 4-year college or university, and are permanent legal residents of the 50 U.S.A./D.C. who are at least 18. Void outside the 50 U.S.A./D.C., and where prohibited or restricted by law. Subject to Official Rules available here. Enter Feb 12, 2019 through April 22, 2019. Sponsor: Land O’Lakes, Inc., 4001 Lexington Ave N, Arden Hills, MN 55112.