SwineTech Inc., an Oskaloosa-based ag technology start-up, has advanced to the final four of American Farm Bureau Fed­­eration’s 2018 Rural Entre­pre­neurship Challenge.

The final four teams, chosen from 471 applicants, were each awarded $15,000 and will compete for the AFBF Entrepreneur of the Year Award during a live competition at AFBF’s annual convention in Nashville Jan. 7.

It marks the fourth consecutive year that at least one Iowa-based entrepreneur has earned a place among the top 10 teams in the contest, including first place overall finishes by ScoutPro in 2015 and AccuGrain in 2016. In total, seven Iowa-based start-ups have made the top 10 and received financial...