Inside the Pod: Youth Education Beyond Germination.

The Wheat State Agronomy Club developed a new program this year to reach out to fourth grade classrooms to educate students about the life cycle and importance of soybeans. Through the support of the Kansas Soybean Commission, the club obtained 100 “Coolbean the Soybean” children’s books produced by the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America.  Club members traveled back to their hometowns to present the book along with a hands-on activity in which the students germinated their own “beanie baby” necklaces that tied in with the plot of the book. The books were then donated to elementary teachers for future use in their classrooms. The club also gave their presentation in the spring semester at Ag Adventures during the Kansas State University Ag Fest in the College of Agriculture, as well as at the Day at the Farm program hosted by the Lyon County Farm Bureau. The presentation was given to over 1,500 students throughout the spring semester. During the fall semester, the club continued the project by presenting to 600 fourth grade students at the Kid’s Field Day hosted by the K-State Department of Agronomy. In total, approximately 2,150 students were reached through our educational program. Teachers and students were excited for the club members to visit their classrooms and to share their knowledge of agriculture. Wheat State Agronomy Club members were eager to provide fourth graders with an “inside the pod” view into the life of a soybean and expose them to the field of agronomy.