Sometimes, it’s nice to play twice.

Following a winning scorecard in 2024, the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC) is playing another round on the MiniSoyta Golf Course Aug. 5-7 at Farmfest in Morgan. Minnesota Soybean’s booth #620 will tee-up checkoff investments across several priority areas – each of which keeps farmers on the fairway and atop the ag leaderboard.

MiniSoyta Golf Course

This year’s Farmfest theme is focused on communities that keep agriculture thriving, and the MiniSoyta Golf Course embodies this statewide mission. Each course hole focuses on a different region of the state. With five holes on the golf course, a handful of Minnesota communities were chosen to represent how the Council works toward improving farmer profitability through creating new, value-added uses, sponsoring innovative research projects and pushing new markets to the forefront.

Tying it all together is a stop at the state capital, where the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA) is stationed to fight for farm-friendly policies.

• Waseca: Research, specifically housing the Southern Research and Outreach Center and

Plasma Blue testing unit

• Hutchinson: A city using soy-based road sealant and fertilizer made with soymeal

• Ada: The first county-level SoyFoam demonstration in Minnesota

• Duluth: The Port of Duluth-Superior has capabilities of sending soybeans to markets in Europe, North Africa and Uzbekistan

• St. Paul: MSGA has boots on the ground to protect farmers for generations to come

The course itself is also a soy product. SYNLawn uses soybean oil to create their natural synthetic turf, using up to 80% soy content.

“We’re looking forward to connecting with our farming community at this year’s Farmfest in a fun, interactive way and promote all the ways Minnesota Soybean covers the field to improve our producers’ profitability,” MSR&PC Chair Gail Donkers said.

A place for policy

Farmfest is also a unique opportunity for MSGA leaders to continue (or start) dialogue with legislators, legislative candidates and state agency officials. Directors will also be available to visit with current, new or returning MSGA members; anyone who signs up for a three-year membership at MSGA’s booth will receive a free MSGA-branded windbreaker. New members are also eligible to win a Big Frig cooler.

“Farmfest is a great place for our team to have face-to-face conversations with policy leaders in a relaxed setting,” MSGA President Darin Johnson said. “This past legislative session left some unfinished business for 2026, and there will be no shortage of remaining state and federal issues to discuss with legislative leaders and candidates.”

This year, MSGA will sell tickets for its latest fundraising venture, a 2024 Ice Castle fish house, sponsored by MEG Corp. This fish house sleeps five and features a push button hydraulic frame, full RV water package, air conditioner and furnace. Funds raised from the raffle will help support MSGA’s advocacy efforts in St. Paul and Washington, D.C. The winner will be announced at the 2026 MN Ag Expo.