Education in Agriculture
Soybean Science Challenge
See the Soy Scholars: 2020 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 six 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 9-12 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., 16, a junior at Carlisle High School in Carlisle, for winning the 2020 First Place State Soybean Science Challenge $1,000 cash Award.
Alyssa B., a junior at Carlisle High School in Carlisle, won the 2020 Soybean Science Challenge First Place Award at the Virtual Southwestern Energy State Science and Engineering Fair April 3. Butler received a $1,000 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Her teacher, Carly Bokker, is also pictured.
Project Title: Greenhouse comparison of genetically similar soybean varieties and resistance to the southern root-knot nematode. Learn more about Alyssa.
Congratulations to Joshua B., 18, a senior at Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences
and the Arts in Hot Springs
Joshua B., age 18, a senior at ASMSA won the Soybean Science Challenge at the 2020 West Central Science Fair held at the school February 27. Joshua received a $300 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board at the Awards Ceremony on Feb. 28. His teacher, Dr. Shane Thompson, is also pictured.
Project Title: Building the future; soybean waste construction materials. Read more about Josh
Congratulations to Amna K., age 16, a sophomore at Little Rock Central High School in Little Rock for winning the 2020 Second Place State Soybean Science Challenge $500 Award
Amna K., age 16, a sophomore at Little Rock Central High School in Little Rock, was the second place state winner of the Soybean Science Challenge at the 2020 Virtual Southwestern Energy State Science Fair April 3, and SSC regional winner at the Central Arkansas Regional Science and Engineering Fair at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock March 6. Amna 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, Lee Conrad, is also pictured.
Project Title: Defatted soy as a high performance energy storage material for supercapacitor use.
Congratulations to Emilee W. and Taylor M., Ages 17 and 18, seniors at Poyen High School in Poyen for winning the 2020 Honorable Mention State Soybean Science Challenge $250 Award
Emilee W. and Taylor M. ages 17 and 18, seniors at Poyen High School in Poyen, were the honorable mention state winners of the Soybean Science Challenge at the 2020 Virtual Southwestern Energy State Science Fair April 3, and the SSC regional winners at the 2020 Ouachita Mountain Science and Engineering Fair at Mid-America Museum in Hot Springs, March 6. Emilee and Taylor received a $250 state cash award and a $300 regional cash award (split between them) provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Their teacher, Amanda Jones, is also pictured.
Project Title: Deadly deterioration; whats really in your drink. Learn more about Emilee and Taylor.
Congratulations to Caleb R., age 15, a freshman at Providence Classical Christian Academy, Rogers
Caleb R., age 15, a freshman at Providence Classical Christian Academy in Rogers, won the Soybean Science Challenge at the 2020 Virtual Northwest Arkansas Regional Science and Engineering Fair March 23 .Caleb received a $300 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Teacher Jennifer Main is also pictured.
Project title: Enhancing soybean growth through the use of magnetic fields. Learn more about Caleb
Congratulations to Cooper B., age 18, a senior at Salem High School in Salem
Congratulations to Cooper B., age 18, a senior at Salem High School in Salem won the Soybean Science Challenge at the 2020 Northeast Arkansas Regional Science and Engineering Fair held at Arkansas State University-Jonesboro on March 13. Cooper received a $300 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board at the Awards Ceremony.
Project Title: Utilizing desk top fabricated sensors to measure transpiration rates in Glycine max.Learn more about Cooper.
Congratulations to Natalie B., age 17, a senior at Star City High School in Star City
Congratulations to Natalie B., age 17, a senior at Star City High School in Star City, won the 2020 Southeast Region Arkansas Soybean Science Challenge March 12. Natalie received a $300 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board.
Project title: Induced leaching of high sodium water out of root uptake zone of Glycine max by ionization. Learn more about Natalie
Congratulations to Tori M., age 15, a freshman at Emerson High School in Emerson
Tori M., age 15, a freshman at Emerson High School in Emerson, won the Soybean Science Challenge at the 2020 Southwest Arkansas Regional Science Fair at Southern Arkansas University-Magnolia March 13. Tori received a $300 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board.
Project Title: The effect of acid rain on soybean root nodules. Learn more about Tori
Congratulations to Alyssa Butler, age 16, a junior at Carlisle High School in Carlisle
Congratulations to Alyssa B, age 16, a junior at Carlisle High School in Carlisle, Arkansas. Alyssa won the Soybean Science Challenge student award at the 2020 Agriscience Fair held at the Virtual FFA State Convention May 3. Alyssa received a $300 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board at the Awards Ceremony.
Project Title: Greenhouse comparison of genetically similar soybean varieties and resistant to the Southern Root Knot Nematode.Learn more about Alyssa
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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