Across the state, Minnesota’s 44 county soybean organizations (Minnesota is the only state to support such a program) were ready to hit the road again after a year of postponements and cancellations. Beyond the successful Driving Soy campaign, grassroot organizations made strides to maintain and gain connections with their communities through community events.
Across the state, Minnesota’s 44 county soybean organizations (Minnesota is the only state to support such a program) were ready to hit the road again after a year of postponements and cancellations. The grassroot organizations made strides to maintain and gain connections with their communities through community events.
- Teeing up
• Throughout the counties, many of the boards hosted annual golf fundraisers. Golf outings serve as a way for the boards to connect with other farmers and agribusinesses in their community. Golf events help build funds to support scholarships, community ag events and other program and projects.
2. Around the Horn
• Every other year, the Kandiyohi County Corn & Soybean Growers hosts the “Farmtastic” event at the Willmar Stingers baseball game with other ag commodity groups in their county. Before the game, attendees learned about all aspects of farming such as the growing process of soybeans and the many uses of value-added soybean oil. Overall, the event hosted around 300 attendees.
3. Putting out Fires
• When emergencies strike in rural communities, it is important to equipped with the right equipment. County boards across the state recognized the need to elevate and determine any needs fire departments may have effecting farm safety. As a result, multiple boards made donations of new or updated equipment to enable the best in rescue and emergency services in their communities.
4. Annual meetings
• After postponing and cancelling most annual meetings that usually take place during the winter months, the clouds parted in the summer to allow for annual meetings. Counties got creative. The Waseca County Board took on their annual meeting with a little twist. They hosted their annual meeting at Half Pint Brewery in Waseca, and included a bean bag tournament. Additionally, Blue Earth County Corn & Soybean Growers switched up their normal mean offerings by adding food trucks.
5. All aboard
• The Nobles County Corn & Soybean Growers invested in the Rock-Nobles County Cattlemen’s tour. The donation was used for biodiesel and included wrapping the busses with a biodiesel erasing emissions message. The message reached the 1,200 attendees, who visited eight different feedlots.
6. Flip flop
• After the lifeguards spent many hours keeping watch over community members using the pool during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Traverse County Corn & Soybean Growers wanted to do their part. They donated Okabashi soy-based sandals to lifeguards working at the Wheaton Swimming Pool. Okabashi sandals contain approximately 45% biobased ingredients, including soybean oil.
7. Soy supporting hunger
• The Norman County Corn & Soybean Growers donated dollars to their county Rural Enrichment and Counseling Headquarters (REACH). This program distributed 127 holiday food baskets to those facing food insecurity in Norman County. Many county boards across the state take initiative to make donations to organizations in need by making donations of soy-based products.
8. The bottom line
• In partnership with the 4H, the Lincoln County Corn and Soybean Growers hosts an ag awareness breakfast. The breakfast displays the farmer’s bottom line from breakfast meal – 35 cents. The event reached more than 400 people.
