MASON CITY — A Northern Iowa entrepreneur is earning statewide recognition for a farming invention designed to make local food production more practical, efficient and accessible.
Zack Smith of Lake Mills won second place at the 2026 EntreFEST Pitch Competition on June 12, taking home a $3,500 prize for his business, The Stock Cropper.
The competition, presented by Hy-Vee, was held in Iowa City and brought together community leaders, founders, investors and startup supporters. Five entrepreneurs competed for a share of $15,000 in prize funding.
Smith’s company, The Stock Cropper, focuses on solutions that better integrate livestock and crops. His invention, the ClusterCluck Drive, is a solar-powered electric drive unit that can be attached to an existing portable coop or pen.
The system allows users to move the structure manually with a Bluetooth key fob or set it on a fully autonomous straight-line schedule through a web-based app.
The idea is aimed at helping producers, small farms and local food systems by making it easier to move livestock safely and efficiently across land. By automating a task that can otherwise be time-consuming, the ClusterCluck Drive gives growers another tool to combine animal care, soil health and food production.
Candi Karsjens, executive director of innovation and entrepreneurship at the NIACC Pappajohn Center, praised Smith’s work as an example of practical problem-solving rooted in entrepreneurship.
“Entrepreneurs like Zack Smith don’t just identify problems; they relentlessly pursue meaningful solutions,” Karsjens said. “The Stock Cropper is a great example of how entrepreneurial ingenuity can create lasting impact for producers and local food systems alike.”
EntreFEST is a two-day conference celebrating entrepreneurship and innovation. For more than a decade, the event has brought together entrepreneurs and industry leaders from across Iowa and the Midwest.
The 2026 EntreFEST Pitch Competition was in its second year of partnership with Hy-Vee and was designed as an accessible platform for Midwest startups at any stage of development. The event gives founders a chance to gain visibility, receive feedback from experienced judges and build connections within Iowa’s entrepreneurial network.
EntreFEST 2026 was hosted by NewBoCo, a Cedar Rapids-based nonprofit whose work includes startup accelerators, technology education and community events.
The NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center serves as North Iowa’s hub for new business starts, innovation and rural business success.
SMART W0RK I was kind of worried about the entire thing. I’ve never worked from home, But Yeah, (D11,205) I did just join and all is good. so I will post back how it goes!_____ https://m0b2pr0w0rld76.blogspot.com/