Monica Poling Named Top-Five Finalist in Make’s Global AI Agents Challenge
Ask a Farmer Knowledge Engine recognized for using AI and autonomous decision making to help a small business capture its extensive knowledge in one searchable, easy-to-update resource.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Aug. 31, 2026 — Albuquerque business strategist and AI educator Monica Poling was named a top-five finalist in a global community challenge hosted by Make, a leading platform for business automation and AI-powered workflows.
Make community leaders initially selected Poling’s Ask a Farmer Knowledge Engine as one of 12 finalists in the company’s 2026 Designing Intelligent Workflows with Make AI Agents Community Challenge. Make later confirmed Poling’s top-five finish following the final round of judging.
Created for Howling Hound Farms, a small family farm in Ontario, Canada, the engine brings the business’s extensive knowledge into one searchable resource that can be easily accessed and updated. Built using Maia, Make’s AI coworker, the engine can interpret a user’s question, retrieve relevant farm knowledge and return a useful response through a conversational interface. It also links to local Windsor-Essex tourism resources.
In its finalist announcement, Make said the project addressed the problem of expert knowledge being trapped in one person’s head while “protecting the IP that makes that expertise valuable.” It described the farmer’s knowledge as “searchable, scalable, and secure.”
“Information alone isn’t what gives an organization its advantage. The real value lies in the experience, judgment and creativity people bring to that information,” said Poling. “AI doesn’t diminish human value; it makes genuine expertise more valuable than ever—especially as others race to produce more, faster, while losing sight of the human stories that make their work distinctive.
“I’m fascinated by how organizations can use AI to capture their expertise, keep it current and put it to work—without flattening what makes it valuable.”
Just weeks after the Make recognition, Poling also won the Launch Kit Prize at ActivateNM’s 2026 Space Fiesta Pitch Competition for her Space Stories Knowledge Engine. The concept brings together and shares stories connected to New Mexico’s emerging position as a leader in the space race.
Both projects reflect Poling’s focus on helping businesses and communities organize, access and apply the expertise they already possess.
I’m fascinated by how organizations can use AI to capture their expertise, keep it current and put it to work—without flattening what makes it valuable.
– Monica Poling
About Monica Poling
Monica Poling is an Albuquerque-based business strategist and AI educator who helps organizations capture, organize and apply their expertise using AI. Her work focuses on turning organizational knowledge into practical resources, business systems and new opportunities.
Learn more at MonicaPoling.com.