Farmly wins Rep. Richard Hudson’s 2025 Congressional App Challenge in North Carolina’s Ninth District
Rep. Richard Hudson has named Finn Outwater of Eno River Academy as the winner of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge in North Carolina’s Ninth District. Their app Farmly makes it easy for users to discover local farms in their area where they can enjoy authentic experiences and purchase fresh produce conveniently while minimizing their carbon footprint.
When asked what inspired the creation of Farmly, Finn Outwater said, “I was inspired to create Farmly because of my own experiences living in rural North Carolina. As a health-conscious person who values fresh produce, I found myself disappointed by the limited options at my local grocery store. One day, I happened to drive by a nearby farm, so I immediately stopped for delicious fresh peaches. I enjoyed my conversation with the farmer about her natural approach to pesticides and the unusual variety of melons she harvested, but I quickly realized that I did not have a way to easily discover any other local farms. I wanted a simple, convenient way to search for the best variety of seasonal produce without enduring long and unproductive internet searches. Farmly was born from this need to connect people with fresh produce from local farms quickly and effortlessly. By making it easier to discover nearby farms, Farmly not only helps users enjoy fresher food with a smaller carbon footprint but also gives local farmers greater visibility and a reliable customer base.”
The 2025 Congressional App Challenge marked another record-setting year for the program. A total of 394 Members of the U.S. House of Representatives hosted App Challenges in their congressional districts, the highest level of participation in the program’s history. More than 13,800 students from across the country participated, submitting over 4,600 original apps focused on real-world challenges ranging from health and accessibility to education, sustainability, and civic engagement.
The Congressional App Challenge is an official initiative of the U.S. House of Representatives that encourages middle school and high school students to learn to code, explore computer science, and build practical technology solutions for their communities. Each participating Member of Congress selects a winning app from their district, and winning teams are invited to showcase their projects to Members of Congress, staff, and industry leaders at the annual #HouseOfCode celebration on Capitol Hill.
The Challenge is proudly bipartisan and reflects a shared commitment to expanding access to STEM education and preparing the next generation of American innovators for the future workforce. The program is a public-private partnership made possible through funding from the Broadcom Foundation, AWS, Infosys Foundation USA, theCoderSchool, Apple, and others.
The 2026 Congressional App Challenge will launch in May, and eligible students can pre-register for the competition now.