In celebration of Soybean Month in Iowa (August), the ISRC will host its third biennial SoyFest from 10am to 2pm, August 27, 2025, on Iowa State University’s central campus near Parks Library and Marston Hall. This free, outdoor celebration of all things soy is held during the first week of fall classes at ISU and features numerous soy-related exhibitors, ISU research labs and student clubs highlighting the importance of soy and its many uses in everyday life from food to new and innovative products. SoyFest will feature grilled pork, turkey and soy-veggie burgers, soy-related snacks, robotic and other technological demonstrations, soy-themed prize giveaways, carnival games, soy-based ice cream and a visit by Cy.

New to SoyFest this year are Skechers Shoes, Cross Plains Solutions and Dynamic Green Products. Skechers uses soybean oil in some of its footwear, specifically in the outsoles of their Goodyear Collection. Cross Plains Solutions manufactures soy-based, non-toxic firefighting foams. Dynamic Green Products manufactures a variety of bio-based oil products. For more information on SoyFest and additional exhibitors and participants, please visit the SoyFest webpage.

Also during Soybean Month, the ISRC will be hosting a Meals from the Heartland meal packaging event sponsored by Cargill on August 1 and a Farm/Field tour for ISU graduate and post-doctoral students, faculty and staff to Wyffels Hybrids Ames Production and Demonstration Facility and the Alliant Energy Solar Farm at ISU on August 5. Look for highlights on all of the ISRC’s Soybean Month activities in the ISRC’s October newsletter.