A-State Students Among Finalists in Governor’s Cup Collegiate Business Plan Competition
JONESBORO – Finalists for the 2025 Governor’s Cup Collegiate Business Plan Competition were recently announced. Among those vying for first place prize include Arkansas State University students Dylan Grant, Corbin Harrison and Hannah John.
Dylan Grant is a business student majoring in global supply chain management from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Corbyn Harrison is an animal science major with a concentration on the pre-veterinary track from East London, South Africa. Hannah Johns is an agricultural business major, with a minor in animal science and a concentration in agricultural marketing and management, from Harrisburg.
With advisers Dr. Jacob Manlove, associate professor of agricultural economics, and meat laboratory manager Corey Readnour by their side, the students are one of 10 finalists from institutions across the state as they compete in the small business sector of the contest.
The Governor’s Cup encourages entrepreneurial spirit amongst undergraduate and graduate college students as they present a product and undertake a business plan.
The contest is separated into three groups: small business, which is limited to Arkansas college students; high-growth undergraduate and high-growth graduate categories, which welcome entries from neighboring institutions and states across the south; and an elevator pitch category.
Their entrepreneurial project, Taste of Africa, introduces a unique snack stick concept. According to Readnour, the product’s name stems from Grant and Harrison’s childhood in Africa. “It is derived from our unique blend of spices and African touch we add to the product, with us growing up in Africa we picked up a couple tips and tricks along the way,” they said.
The food item is a spin-off of their expertise in creating shelf snack sticks for the backpack program, which serves school children facing food insecurity in the community. "It has a variety of different flavors ranging from spicy or smokey to coriander and salt. We came across this recipe through trial batches we conducted over the last couple years at university," said Readnour.
Another round of finalists for the Governor's Cup will be announced this month. The oral competition will occur April 14-16 at the Arkansas Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock. Following the conclusion of the oral phase of the contest, an awards luncheon will begin at 11:30 a.m., where winners will be announced.
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