AgTech Tries to Get Hacked—On Purpose
Students Drive Innovation at 2025 CyberTractor Challenge
Now in its fourth year, the CyberTractor Challenge has grown from a niche event into a cornerstone of agricultural cybersecurity training. Hosted at Iowa State University, the 2025 event brought together students from across the country to test their skills on real-world farming equipment—no simulations, no shortcuts.
Organized by a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the event is designed to build a more resilient, secure future for connected agriculture.
Learning That Sticks
The five-day event blends classroom instruction with hands-on hacking. Students dive into CANBUS security, IoT systems, and embedded software vulnerabilities. For many, it’s a career-defining experience.
“As a student, one of the biggest attractions is the expertise in learning you can get,” said Trent Walraven, a former participant now in Deere’s IT development program. “There’s a bunch of learning that can be done that can be taken outside of the event and can help you outside in the real world in the field because it’s helped me multiple times.”
Curiosity Over Competition
While the challenge includes real-world scenarios and guided assessments, the focus stays on learning, not winning.
“For me, success would be trying something new regardless of whether I fail or not,” said Anish Nag, an Iowa State student and John Deere intern. “And learning more about whatever I tried.”
Students also aren’t just tinkering - they’re testing systems that drive modern agriculture.
“Being here it’s about getting our hands on real equipment,” said Morgan Hinkley of Kennesaw State University. “And we don’t know if there’s anything to find but we’re looking for Easter eggs.”
Building the Future, Securely
With over 100 students trained and 10 alumni now working in cybersecurity roles across ag and tech, the challenge is delivering on its mission: to build a resilient, cross-disciplinary security community for connected food systems.
“With more and more technology, that means there are more and more vulnerabilities, especially in embedded software,” said Kushal Badodekar of Illinois Tech. “So, if you want to pursue a career in cybersecurity, coming to an event like this certainly helps prepare you for that future.”
