From piglets to soybeans, over 200 students from Nicollet and Waseca schools attended an Ag in Action Day, hosted by Christensen Farms and Minnesota State University, Mankato (MSU). The Waseca County Corn & Soybean Board hosted a booth inspiring the youth on the versatility of soybeans.  

“Important agricultural events like this would not be possible without community support,” said Christensen Farms Interim Communications Manager Kevin Burns. “The great thing is that everyone who participated were all about giving students informative and interactive experiences.”  

Many of the students that attended this event have never experienced agriculture firsthand. While at the Waseca soybean booth, students learned about the Minnesota soy house, a model home that highlights products made from soybeans, thanks to soy checkoff investments. The students also played a trivia game focusing on Minnesota’s soybean production to win different prizes.  

“This event was for younger fifth and sixth graders to get hands-on experiences and learn what agriculture includes beyond just working on a farm with animals and crops. It’s about all sorts of different sectors like natural resources, science and other careers,” said DQ Spencer, Professor of Management & Entrepreneurship at MSU. “They loved the fact they could play with the exhibits and listening to the students, they made comments about how they learned twice as much information about agriculture as they previously knew.”  

The Waseca County Corn & Soybean Board was proud to use checkoff funds to support this event, which encouraged the introduction to the many ways soybeans impact the students’ daily lives. Events like Ag in Action highlight how local organizations can work together to inspire future leaders in agriculture and strength connections between schools and agriculture.  

“Using checkoff funds for events like Ag in Action helps us show students how soybeans impact their daily lives,” said Waseca County Board Chair Scott Singlestad. “It’s a great opportunity to connect with youth and build stronger ties between our community and agriculture.” 

About Waseca County Corn and Soybean Growers Board    
Waseca County is affiliated with the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council, a 15-person, farmer-led board that oversees the investment of checkoff dollars on behalf of the nearly 25,000 soybean farmers in Minnesota. The Council is governed by the rules of a federally mandated checkoff program requiring all soybean producers to pay a fee on the soybeans they sell. This money is used to promote, educate, and develop market opportunities for soybeans.