Education in Agriculture
Soybean Science Challenge
See the Soy Scholars: 2021 Research Winners
What is the Soybean Science Challenge?
The Soybean Science Challenge is a farmer-funded, statewide, high school education program that seeks to increase student knowledge about the value of Arkansas soybeans to the Arkansas economy, to the labor force, and ultimately to feed and fuel the world.
The Challenge is co-sponsored by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board and the University of Arkansas System, Division of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service.
In seven years the Challenge has reached thousands of students and teachers through real-time and on-line education, in-service training, Virtual Field Trips, classroom lab instruction, Arkansas-based educational publications, mentoring, and awards for independent student research.
Who is eligible?
Students in grades 6-12 who successfully complete the Soybean Science Challenge online course and enter a science project in one of the ISEF affiliated fairs are eligible for consideration of cash awards. Applied science projects will be considered from all categories as long as they are directly soybean related.
Recent Winners
Congratulations to Alyssa B., 17, a senior at Carlisle High School in Carlisle, for winning the 2021 First Place State Soybean Science Challenge $1,000 cash Award and the Central Arkansas Regional Science and Engineering Fair $300 cash Award.
Alyssa B., a senior at Carlisle High School in Carlisle, won the 2021 Soybean Science Challenge First Place Award at the Virtual Southwestern Energy State Science and Engineering Fair March 31 and the regional award at the Central Arkansas Regional Science and Engineering Fair March 6. Butler received $1,300 in cash awards provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Her Teacher-Mentor, Carly Bokker, is also pictured.
Project Title: Greenhouse host resistance study on soybean cultivars to southern root knot nematodes Learn more about Alyssa.
Congratulations to Claire G, age 17, a junior at the Arkansas School for Math, Science and the Arts in Hot Springs for winning the 2021 Second Place State Soybean Science Challenge $500 Award and the West Central Arkansas Science Fair Regional $300 Award.
Claire G., 17, a junior at Arkansas School for Math, Science and the Arts in Hot Springs, was the second place state winner of the Soybean Science Challenge at the 2021 Virtual Southwestern Energy State Science Fair March 31, and SSC regional winner at the West Central Arkansas Regional Science Fair at the Arkansas School of Math, Science and the Arts in Hot Springs, February 26. Claire received a $500 cash award for her second place state award and a $300 cash award for her regional award. Cash awards were provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. her Teacher-Mentor, Dr. Lindsey Waddell, is also pictured.
Project Title: Mushroom meds for bees.
Congratulations to Camero Holder, age 16, a sophomore at Nettleton High School in Nettleton for winning the 2021 Honorable Mention State Soybean Science Challenge $250 Award and the SSC Regional $300 Award at Northeast Arkansas Regional Science Fair.
Congratulations to Robert Lutgen, a homeschooled sophomore in Cabot, AR for winning the 2021 Honorable Mention State Soybean Science Challenge $250 Award.
Cameron Holder and Robert Lutgen, ages 16, a sophomore at Nettleton High School in Nettleton and a homeschooled sophomore in Cabot, were the honorable mention state winners of the Soybean Science Challenge at the 2021 Virtual Southwestern Energy State Science Fair March 31. Holder was also the SSC regional winner at the 2021 Virtual Northeast Arkansas Regional Science and Engineering Fair on March 5. Cameron and Robert received a $250 state cash award each, and Cameron received a $300 regional cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Their Teacher-Mentors, Bryant Fong and Mary Lutgen, are also pictured.
Project Title:Quantifying CO2 Soybean exchange with chlorophyll content. Learn more about Cameron
Project Title: How drones can help manage tailwater on farms. Learn more about Robert
Congratulations to Aakash B., a seventh grader at Lisa Academy West Middle School in Little Rock.
Aakash B., a seventh grader at Lisa Academy West Middle School in Little Rock won the Virtual Central Arkansas Regional Science and Engineering Fair Junior Level Soybean Science Challenge Award March 5. Aakash received the $200 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Teacher Amber Butte is also pictured.
Project title: Electronic soil moisture sensor; save water, save fuel. Learn more about Aakash
Congratulations to Jonathan G., age 17, a junior at Fayetteville High School, Fayetteville .
Jonathan G., age 17, a junior at Fayetteville Christian School in Fayetteville, won the Soybean Science Challenge Senior Level Award at the 2021 Virtual Northwest Arkansas Regional Science and Engineering Fair March 5. Jonathan received a $300 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Teacher Alicia Deavens is also pictured.
Project title: Comparing crop species response to heat. Learn more about Jonathan
Congratulations to Nealy N., age 12, a seventh grader at Bergman Middle School, Bergman.
Nealy N., age 12, a seventh grader at Bergman Middle School in Bergman, won the Soybean Science Challenge Junior Level award at the 2021 Virtual Northwest Arkansas Regional Science and Engineering Fair on March 5. Nealy received a $200 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Teacher Stacy Williams is also pictured.
Project title: Using pigment to determine the amount of sunlight needed for house plants.
Congratulations to Blake S., age 12, a seventh grader at Salem High School in Salem
Blake S., age 12, a seventh grader at Salem High School in Salem won the Junior Level Soybean Science Challenge at the 2021 Virtual Northeast Arkansas Regional Science and Engineering Fair held on March 5. Blake received a $200 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. He is pictured with his Teacher-Mentor Amanda Smith.
Project Title: River Pollution Learn more about Blake.
Congratulations to Joshua T., age 16, a junior at Monticello High School in Monticello
Joshua T., age 16, a junior at Monticello High School in Monticello , won the 2021 Southeast Region Arkansas Soybean Science Challenge March 12. Joshua received a $300 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Josh's Teacher-Mentor, Whitney Maggard is also pictured.
Project title: Relative thermal conductive and dissipative properties of commonly available soy products to distilled water. Learn more about Joshua
Congratulations to Joseph Y., age 15, a freshman at Mountain Pine High School in Mountain Pine.
Joseph Y., a freshman at Mountain Pine High School in Mountain Pine, won the Soybean Science Challenge at the 2021 Virtual Ouachita Mountain Regional Science and Engineering Fair March 5. Joesph received a $300 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Joseph is pictured with his Teacher-Mentor Bobby Young.
Project Title: Water energy usage. Learn more about Joseph
Congratulations to Jack H., age 17, a junior at Taylor High School in Taylor
Jack H., age 17, a junior at Taylor High School in Taylor, won the Soybean Science Challenge at the 2021 Southwest Arkansas Regional Science Fair at Southern Arkansas University-Magnolia March 12. Jack received a $300 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Jack is pictured with his Teacher-Mentor, Christy Hoyle.
Project Title: Burning Biofuels. Learn more about Jack
Congratulatios to Ayana P., age 11, a sixth grader from Magnolia Middle School, in Magnolia
Ayana P., age 11, a sixth grader from Magnolia Middle School in Magnolia, won the Junior Level Soybean Science Challenge at the 2021 Southwest Arkansas Regional Science Fair at Southern Arkansas University-Magnolia on March 12. Ayana received a $200 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Ayana is pictured with her teacher, Ryland Ochs.
Project title: Got Oxygen? Learn more about Ayana
Congratulations to Alyssa Butler, age 17, a senior at Carlisle High School in Carlisle
Congratulations to Alyssa B, age 17, a senior at Carlisle High School in Carlisle, Arkansas. Alyssa won the Soybean Science Challenge student award at the 2021 Virtual Agriscience Fair held at the Virtual FFA State Convention April 26.. Alyssa received a $300 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board at the Awards Ceremony. Alyssa is pictured with her FFA Advisor, Carly Bokker.
Project Title: Greenhouse host resistance rate study on soybean cultivars to the Southern Root Knot Nematode.Learn more about Alyssa
Congratulations to Hannah and Hadleigh B., age 12, eighth graders at Mountain Home Junior High School in Mountain Home.
Hannah and Hadleigh B., age 12, eighth graders at Mountain Home Junior High School in Mountain Home, won the Junior Level Soybean Science Challenge Award at the FFA State Convention Agriscience Fair. Hannah and Hadleigh as a team received a $200 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Hannah and Hadleigh are pictured with their FFA Advisor (and father) Josh Baker.
Project title: Comparing flavor preferences of White Tailed Deer to understand their feeding tendencies in order to improve deer numbers at feeding sites. Learn more about Hadleigh and Hannah
For more information on the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board, visit their website themiraclebean.com
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Soybeans & Rice Recipe
Cooking Soybeans
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