The ISRC hosted its third biennial SoyFest celebration of all things soy on August 27 on ISU’s Central Campus. The free outdoor festival was held in conjunction with the first week of fall semester classes at ISU and Soybean Month (August) in Iowa. SoyFest featured a variety of exhibitors, ISU research labs and student clubs to highlight the importance of soy and its many uses in everyday life from food to new and innovative products. Student turnout for the event was the largest ever, perhaps due in part to the perfect weather. 

Hy-Vee was on hand to grill pork and turkey (processed soy) burgers and Impossible (soy)  burgers and the ISU Creamery handed out its signature SoyFest chocolate, soy-based ice cream. Old Capitol Food Company gave students an opportunity to try BBQ tofu, Laura Soybeans provided their “Tosteds” (dry roasted soybeans), and Iowa Smokehouse provided pork sticks.

In addition, the following ISU research groups and labs provided hands-on learning experiences: ISU Entomology Honey Bee program, Crop Protection Network and the research labs of Eric Cochran, Arti Singh, Danny Singh and Lie Tang provided hands-on technological demonstrations. Carnival games offered soy-themed prize giveaways, and Cy helped entertain students and posed for photos. 

Thank you to the following businesses and groups for making SoyFest 2025 our most successful event yet: Iowa Soybean Association, Iowa Food & Family Project, ISU Creamery, Iowa Egg Council, Hy-Vee, Skechers, Old Capitol Food Co., Laura Soybeans, Iowa Smokehouse, Ames Ford Lincoln, Cross Plains Solutions, Dynamic Green Products, Goodyear and ISU undergraduate student clubs: Agronomy, Culinary Science and Dietetics.