INDIANAPOLIS – An Indiana software firm that developed technology aimed at saving farmers time and money on maintaining their equipment is this year’s winner of the annual Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge.

Gripp, based in Indianapolis, received $100,000 from the contest to grow the business.

“There’s growing traction, growing value and awareness that what we’re building is hitting that critical need for farmers,” said Tracey Wiedmeyer, co-founder and CEO of the start-up company.

Gripp was chosen for its QR Code/Mobile App system over ag technology firms across the country that entered the 11th annual competition. The winner was announced during last month’s American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) convention in San Antonio, Texas.

“We were super excited. The investment grants help. Every little thing helps,” he said.

Wiedmeyer, a member of Indiana Farm Bureau, said his company produces a QR Code for whatever piece of machinery a farmer wants to track. He said the QR Code contains a listing of all the parts and when each part on the piece of equipment should be serviced to extend the life of the machine.

“You just scan the code and you’re right there at that profile,” he said.

The information on the QR Code is input by Gripp primarily from a large database it keeps on parts for makes and models of various machines large and small. In addition, the QR Code provides quick access to help for diagnosing and making repairs, if necessary.

After downloading the app, the QR Code is activated by scanning it with a cell phone or some other personal device.

Wiedmeyer said users can also text or speak into the device to record the dates each part was serviced or replaced for future reference.

The app also translates to English from a Spanish texting and speaking worker for the owner of a farm to understand the information spoken into the device and “the owner can reply in English, and it will translate into Spanish for the worker.”

He said the device is a time saver because farmers can access or log information while in front of the machine instead of having to leave to find or log the data on a home computer or service manual.

The farmer also doesn’t have to rely on memory to know when the part was last serviced. “We try to make it as easy as possible,” he said.

Currently, Wiedmeyer said the system is used on about 70 of the largest farms across the nation but is ideal for much smaller operations.

“The unique thing about what we’re solving is it seems to exist on just about every farm in the country,” he said.

The firm is active in spreading word about the system through advertising, trade show conventions and other ag-related means.

Wiedmeyer said his company is also working with manufacturers and dealerships to place their QR Codes on their machinery so it’s ready to scan by their customers once they download the app.

The company sprung in 2023 from a business incubator program at Purdue University that forms companies run by experts in various areas to develop solutions to needs identified within the agriculture industry.

The university was put in touch with Wiedmeyer, who was assigned the task of putting the company together, developing the computer software technology and getting it to market.

Wiedmeyer, who grew up on a farm in Wisconsin, said he’s a software engineer by trade and used his skills to previously develop other software firms.

“One thing led to another and here we are,” he said.

Labby, a New York-based firm, received $25,000 as runner up in the contest for developing cutting-edge, real-time milk testing solutions powered by AI, advanced photonics and mobile spectroscopy for the dairy industry.

AFBF President Zippy Duvall said the amount of prize money was doubled this year and so was the future impact on the industry.

“The entrepreneurs honored today are helping shape the future of agriculture by finding innovative solutions to the challenges faced by farmers and ranchers,” he said.