Soy innovation takes center stage at Farm Science Review

By Dusty Sonnenberg, CCA, Field Leader, a project of the Ohio Soybean Council and Soybean Checkoff.

The Ohio Soybean Council has a building at Farm Science Review that greets thousands of visitors each year. It is filled with displays that tell the stories of Ohio’s soybean farmers and how their check-off dollars fund research, education, and projects designed to return value to the farm. Mackenzie Joseph is the Communications Manager for the Ohio Soybean Council and recently visited with Field Leader to preview some of the highlights at this year’s Farm Science Review.

Field Leader: Farm Science Review is a destination for thousands of Ohio’s soybean farmers as well as the general public. What are some of the things visitors will learn about in the soybean building at the review this year?

Joseph: We are very excited this year to have the Ohio Soybean Building back in action. It is building number 441 if you are looking at a map of the review site. It is located at the corner of Tractor Street and Friday Avenue. This year at the Soybean Building, we really want to focus on getting folks up close and personal with bioproducts, specifically ones that have soybean uses and that have been developed with checkoff investments through both the United Soybean Board and Airable Research Labs.

Field Leader: What are some of the products that visitors will see firsthand?

Joseph: There are four cornerstone bioproducts that we will have on display this year. We will have representatives to talk about soy foam. This soy-based firefighting foam eliminates PFAS and is a great use of soybean meal. We will also be able to discuss the Ohio Soybean Council’s reimbursement program for fire departments using soy foam. Ohio fire departments are eligible to receive 50% of $1,000 back with their purchase of soy foam. This is a great opportunity for folks to interact with soy foam, understand how it works, and learn how they can get it into their local fire departments.

We will also have Scott Porter from Dynamic Green Products to talk about his line of soybean oil uses through bar and chain oil and all the other products he has in the line. These products were developed with the help of soybean check-off dollars through Airable Research Lab. Scott is a great person to talk to about all things bioproducts, and this year’s review will provide a great opportunity to get some samples to try yourself.

We will also have a brand-new Roof Maxx display. We are constructing a doghouse with Roof Maxx applied to the shingles. This display will allow folks to see the formula and how it rejuvenates the shingles. We will also have a Roof Maxx giveaway that folks can enter for a chance to win an application of Roof Maxx for an area up to 2,500 square feet.

Field Leader: Are there any new products that have not been featured in the past at the review?

Joseph: SYNLAWN is a new product we will be featuring this year. The SYNLawn® system uses soybean oil to replace petroleum-based polymers in their artificial lawn product. We will have a 15-by-15 square of SYNLAWN going over into our kids’ area. This display will allow folks to look at SYNLAWN and give the kids something to play on.

SYNLAWN is a plant-based artificial grass™ by SYNLawn®. Their product is an Eco-Friendly Artificial Grass Solution, and the only USDA-certified bio-based artificial grass on the market. Made with plant-based polyethylene from soybeans, this turf reduces environmental impact while maintaining exceptional durability.

Field Leader: Besides the soy-based bioproducts you just mentioned, what other things will be featured in the soybean building?

Joseph: We will have our typical plant research displays with the latest production information that has been funded in part by soybean check-off dollars. Visitors can also see how the soybean check-off is interacting in key markets and learn firsthand how check-off investments are creating those new markets and demand for Ohio soybeans, whether that be in the bioproducts we have on display or in the international market space.

We also offer visitors the opportunity to taste soybeans firsthand with our soybean oil-popped popcorn. It is popped on-site in Ohio-grown Plenish soybean oil.