Aurora business Grain Weevil was one of three Nebraska businesses recognized by the Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC) as a 2022 NBDC Business Award Winner.
Grain Weevil was awarded for Innovation Business of the Year. In addition to Grain Weevil, FixLexia of Omaha was awarded Champion of Small Business, and Kana Systems of Lincoln for Government Contractor of the Year.
Grain Weevil, owned by father-son duo Chad and Ben Johnson, is working to eliminate grain bin deaths through the invention of an autonomous robot. The Grain Weevil levels grain, breaks crusts, conducts inspections, and feeds grain into extraction augers. Currently undergoing trials in grain bins on farms in Nebraska, Iowa, and Tennessee, and at a commercial facility in Illinois, the product is inching nearer to commercialization.
The mission of Grain Weevil is simple: no boots in the grain. “Going inside a grain bin is the worst job on the farm,” said Chad Johnson. “We want to prevent the deaths and injuries that occur in grain bins every year, while also maintaining the high quality of the grain.”
The awardees will be honored at local celebrations in the coming weeks.
