The first exclusive tour of the Change-Maker Academy concluded with great success, leaving students enthusiastic and eager for the upcoming opportunities as part of the program. Last Thursday, students toured Salin 247, a cutting-edge start-up revolutionizing small scale, lightweight autonomous farm machinery located in Ames, Iowa.

Founded by the innovative father-son duo, Dave and Ben Krog, the company was born from a vision to reduce soil compactions by getting heavy equipment off the field. Their mission focuses on creating more affordable, lighter machinery and minimizing the number of large machines on highways. Salin 247’s business model is currently service-based, offering autonomous machinery solutions to farmers with the goal of commercializing their equipment in the future. 

Salin 247 has developed five different machines: a planter, cultivator, dry applicator, post-emerge liquid sprayer, and side-dress nitrogen applicator - all powered by 100% biodiesel. Dave shared insights about ongoing innovations and advancements for their 2025 prototypes highlighting their commitment to agricultural progress. 

Students gained valuable insights from their conversation with Dave. They learned firsthand about the essential role of investors and the importance of maintaining connections within the local agriculture community. When asked about business plans and turning dreams into reality, Dave’s advice was clear: start small, identify problem, and build a plan to execute the solution. He candidly shared the challenges the team has faced, emphasizing that overcoming obstacles has only strengthened their products. Through the challenges, they have improved their machinery, sensors, and technology, resulting in higher quality products for the market. By end of the tour and discussion, students felt inspired about the future of agriculture and their own entrepreneurial journeys.