LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KATV) — Eleven Arkansas students have been recognized in the 2025 soybean Science Challenge, a competition designed to engage junior high and high school students in tackling real-world challenges in soybean production and agricultural sustainability.
The challenge, supported by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board and facilitated by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, introduces students to agricultural research with a focus on soybeans, a significant crop for the state.
Participants complete an online course and compete in regional or state science fairs for the Soybean Science Challenge Award, which includes a cash prize for both students and their mentors.
Julie Robinson, Soybean Science Challenge Director, and Keith Harris, Soybean Science Challenge Coordinator, explained that the competition is open to students across Arkansas, regardless of whether they attend public, private, charter, or home schools.
“They just have to go to school in Arkansas,” Harris said, noting that students can participate independently with a mentor’s guidance.
The projects undertaken by students are diverse, ranging from computer programming to detect agricultural pests to exploring natural resource management for improved soybean yields.
One winning project focused on predicting future soybean yields based on environmental conditions, while another examined the impact of water supply on yield.
The competition is crucial for the Arkansas soybean industry, as it helps train future researchers who will explore new soybean varieties and water management practices.
“It’s important for them because they’re training the future researchers that are going to look into different soybean varieties or water management practices or uses for those soybeans that are going to impact the feed, fuel and fiber for our world population,” said Robinson.
Winners of the competition can be viewed on the University of Arkansas Extension website and the national site.
The course for next year’s competition is already open, and students are encouraged to begin their research to prepare for the regional and state science fairs scheduled for February, March, and April.
