Ag 4.0 Ramps Up with Hackathon and Summit Scholarships

Apps for Ag Hackathon connects coders and growers to promote innovation

On September 12, 2016, Grey County kicked off an innovative new contest that challenges tech developers to invent applications that solve an issue facing food producers in Grey County. There is $1,000 in prize money available and participants will have opportunities to learn from experts and get exposure in the tech and agriculture industries. Interested developers can follow the competition at http://appsforag-greycounty-2016.eventbrite.ca and it’s not too late to get involved.

As part of the Apps for Ag contest, developers have the opportunity to join in a Hackathon at Georgian College in Owen Sound on October 1. Working alongside mentors from AgNition and Palmer Anderson, developers can learn from experts and refine their applications. Final project outlines must be submitted by October 21 and can be pitched to judges on October 26. The top four finalists will be invited to the Ag 4.0 Summit where a winner will be revealed.

For more information about the Apps for Ag competition, please visit http://appsforag-greycounty-2016.eventbrite.ca or contact Ashleigh Weeden, Project Lead – Connected County Initiative, at ashleigh.weeden [at] grey.ca (ashleigh[dot]weeden[at]grey[dot]ca) or 519-372-0219 ext. 1255.

Are you 16-25 and want to attend the Ag 4.0 Summit? Apply online to be considered for a scholarship for free registration!

Grey County and the Ag 4.0 Summit team are committed to making the Summit accessible to people from settings and communities with limited resources. Up to 10 scholarships will be available to youth, volunteers and community-based advocates, producers and leaders in the fields of agriculture, food, and technology.

“We’re excited to offer this opportunity to include as many people as possible in the Ag 4.0 Summit and to include young leaders by offering them Summit scholarships  to attend the Summit free of charge,” said Ashleigh Weeden, Project Lead for the Connected County Initiative.

“We hope that these scholarship opportunities will help youth connect with local and regional leaders and show them the diverse career opportunities at the intersection of agriculture and technology,” said Philly Markowitz, Economic Development Officer – Local Food.

Scholarships will be evaluated based on applicants’ interests, background, and experience with the topics to be explored through the Ag 4.0 Summit.

“These scholarships have been provided through generous donations from municipalities, organizations, businesses, and individuals who want to support the inclusion of youth and people for whom price may be a barrier. We are grateful for the support from our community and look forward to reading your application for a scholarship to attend the Ag 4.0 Summit,” said Weeden.

To apply for the scholarships, youth aged 16-25 can submit a short application online at https://ag40-summit-scholarship.eventbrite.ca.

Please note these scholarships are for the Summit only and some scholarships have been donated for applicants from specific communities. 

To learn more about the Ag 4.0 Summit visit www.grey.ca/smart.

For more information or if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please contact:

• Ashleigh Weeden, Project Lead - Connected County Initiative, at %20ashleigh.weeden [at] grey.ca (ashleigh[dot]weeden[at]grey[dot]ca) or 519.372.0219 ext. 1255.
• Philly Markowitz, Economic Development Officer - Local Food, at %20philly.markowitz [at] grey.ca (philly[dot]markowitz[at]grey[dot]ca) or  (519) 376-3365 ext. 6125.