GrowNextGen ambassadors have been doing some creative outreach, undeterred by the challenges of COVID-19. This energetic team, sponsored by the Ohio Soybean Council and Battelle, have been sharing about soybeans in ways both familiar and brand new!
June’s Ohio 4-H “Camp…ish” provided a virtual camp experience, inviting children to join online for songs, crafts, science, nature and fun with other campers. The ambassadors created a video demonstrating a design challenge, Engineer an Egg Catcher, that campers watched.
Ambassadors then coached the participants to use paper and tape to create prototype egg catchers that were then tested live in the virtual camp event. Participants also learned about soybeans’ use for feeding chickens and the important role of agriculture in Ohio’s economy. Kayla Oberstadt, 4-H program manager, said, “I loved seeing the campers’ enthusiasm and engineering minds at work as they problem-solved their egg catchers.”
For another virtual outreach, Camp Palmer’s 4-H Camp in a Box, GrowNextGen provided over 500 soybean seed necklace kits. These kits allow children to learn about seeds and what they need to germinate: water and heat.
Each Saturday during June and July, the ambassadors are live and in person at the North Market, presenting the soybean seed necklace craft. Ambassador Shaye Creamer said, “We typically talk about the many uses of soybeans, where they can find them in their everyday lives, and how they are grown here in Ohio.” Ambassadors are also handing out hand sanitizer made with soy protein.
Watch for the upcoming “It’s Soy Fun!” craft videos created by ambassadors, providing great activities and information about soybeans!
