The 2014 Ohio State Fair begins today and soybean farmers are proud to participate in a big way. The Ohio Soybean Council (OSC) and soybean checkoff are one of the presenting sponsors of this year’s fair. Fairgoers are invited to learn more about Ohio soybeans and meet some of the men and women who grow them at the OSC display in the Nationwide Donahey Ag and Hort building.

“Soybeans play a large part in our everyday lives,” said Patrick Knouff, OSC Chairman and Shelby County soybean farmer. “We are very excited to be a presenting sponsor of the 2014 Ohio State Fair and get the opportunity to have Ohio soybean farmers, livestock farmers and fairgoers together in one location to celebrate Ohio’s number one industry, agriculture.”

Additionally, OSC is a presenting sponsor of the 2014 Junior Livestock Shows, the O’Neill Swine Building, Voinovich Livestock and Trade Center and Rabbit & Poultry Pavilion.

The Ohio Soybean Farmers’ booth will have an interactive tractor simulator for fairgoers to get a feel for the equipment and technology soybean farmers use to grow crops.

The Ohio Soybean Farmers’ booth will also have bioproduct samples and demonstrations. Bioproducts, renewable products made with soybeans, are used in thousands of different household and industrial products.

In addition to bioproducts and a tractor simulator, fairgoers will have the opportunity to register to win an iPad by participating in the Ohio Soybean Farmers photo board near the Cardinal Gate entrance throughout the 12-day event.

Soybean Day

On Saturday, August 2, OSC will host Soybean Day at the Ohio State Fair. Several Ohio soybean farmers will be at the Cardinal Gate entrance to greet fairgoers and explain what soybean farmers in the state are doing to sustain the lives of people and animals, while taking great care of the environment around them.

“Only 1 percent of the population in the U.S. is directly involved in agriculture,” said Knouff. “With so few people involved in farming, they have questions. Especially in urban areas many people have never met a farmer or seen how a farm operates. On Soybean Day, and throughout the fair, they have that opportunity. We encourage all fairgoers to stop by, ask questions and learn about the Ohio soybean industry.”

About Ohio Soybean Council

Headquartered in Worthington, the Ohio Soybean Council is governed by a volunteer farmer board, which directs the Soybean Promotion and Research Program. The program’s primary goal is to improve soybean profitability by targeting research, education, promotion and development projects through the investment of farmer-contributed funds (checkoff). To learn more visit soyohio.org.

About Sustaining Life, Respecting Nature Campaign

Made possible by the Ohio Soybean Council, the Ohio Soybean Farmers – Sustaining Life, Respecting Nature campaign is designed to help soybean farmers share their stories about farming and the work they do every day to sustain the life of people and animals, while taking great care of the environment around them. To learn more or ask a question about soybean farming in Ohio, visit www.ohiosoybeanfarmers.org.

Media Contact

Katie Bauer
Ohio Soybean Council
614.476.3100
kbauer@soyohio.org