Farm Foundation Awards

Farm Foundation Innovator of the Year Award

Recognizing a person, organization, or company for playing an integral part towards solving some of the most important challenges faced today in the agriculture and food industries.

2025 Innovator of the Year Award Recipient

Robbie Dye is a former Farm Foundation agri-food leader and the co-founder and CEO of Our Farms, an online retail marketplace featuring products from more than 20,000 American farms. Dye began his brand-building career at age 20 when he founded an advertising agency in Southern California. Three years later, his agency was acquired by an established firm, where Dye served as creative director. During that time, he managed creative initiatives for brands such as Bentley Motors, the Los Angeles Angels and Landry’s Hospitality Group, winning multiple awards for the firm’s work.

In 2021, deciding to transition out of the firm and finalize his studies at Cornell University, Robbie assumed roles advising marketing strategies for renowned brands such as the acclaimed hospitality group, RED O Restaurants by Celebrity Chef Rick Bayless, John Wayne’s Duke Bourbon, and the publicly traded group, Constellation Software, for their portfolio brand, Wynne Systems.

After a life-altering experience on the ranch where his dad, a 4th generation cattle rancher, was raised in rural Atkinson, NE, Robbie felt the call to leave it all behind and go all-in on agriculture. Leveraging his experience in brand building, hospitality, tech and eCommerce, Dye launched Our Farms in 2023 and quickly became recognized as one of the leading farm direct marketplaces in America. With a mission to build a platform that represents the American farmer, the marketplace enables farmers through digital transformation, logistics services, and marketing support.

Robbie lives outside Charlotte, NC nestled on top of Lake Norman with his wife and three children. The entire family runs a cattle farm and beef business, Little Mountain Farm & Cattle Co., that is distributed across NC and available online directly to consumers.

Robbie Dye

Tyler Speer, the COO of Our Farms, brings nearly a decade of invaluable experience from the corporate realm, particularly with Apple. With a remarkable track record in advertising, eCommerce, and training initiatives, Tyler has left an indelible mark on the industry. He played a pivotal role in establishing the first Amazon-focused advertising agency in the U.S., propelling it to global prominence. Tyler’s expertise is deeply rooted in eCommerce, where he successfully grew and scaled major brands, empowering Apple’s global business staff, and developed winning teams across the world.

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About the Award

The focus of this award is to recognize those change makers that are an integral part to solving some of the most influential challenges we face today in the agriculture and food industries.

Innovator of the Year Award Criteria
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  • The innovation’s benefits are clearly measurable by positive impacts within the food and agriculture sector
  • Innovator identifies the overall value proposition of the innovative idea or project
  • The innovation must impact more than one level of the supply chain from farmers to consumers
  • Exhibits impact of strengthening the link between farmers and consumers
  • Embodies the mission and vision of Farm Foundation through their work and contributions
Innovator of the Year Award Nomination Materials
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Please provide the following for the Innovator of the Year award nomination packet:

  • Contributions Summary: A bullet point summary of the significant contributions this individual, company, or organization has made to food and agriculture. You can also share a CV/Resume if nominating an individual.
  • Supporting Letter: Provide at least one letter of support from a colleague who can share insight on the impact this nominee has made.
  • Slide Deck Intro and/or Links to Video/Media Supporting Materials: Please share an intro slide deck and/or links to video or other media materials that showcase the innovative strategies and focus of the nominee.

Please note: Finalists will be asked to share a short two-minute video that shares their innovative approach. This video will be shown at the during the Farm Foundation Round Table Dinner in Spokane, Washington on July 17, 2025.

Nominations materials should be submitted at the nomination portal no later than November 15, 2024.

Who Can I Contact With Questions?
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Past Recipients

2024: Dr. Stephen Adejoro, Director, Livestock Industry Foundation for Africa
2023: Philip “PJ” Haynie III, Owner/CEOHaynie Farms/Arkansas River Rice