Checkoff grant advances community engagement

The Kansas Soybean Commission implemented a new engagement activity available for FFA chapters, 4-H members and teachers around Kansas called Beans Make Bacon. The hands-on activity allows participants to gain an understanding of how pigs rely on the amino acids found in soybean meal as an energy source to grow. Soybeans can be used as a protein source in livestock’s diet such as fish, pigs, dairy cattle and beef cattle.
Kansas Soybean staff took this activity on the road to Manhattan for the Kansas FFA State Convention and 4-H Discovery Days. During the two days of tabling, staff interacted with almost 3,000 people telling the story of how beans make bacon. Participants were encouraged to make their own snack mix and ask questions about soybeans and how they play a role in their day to day lives.
Teachers are also able to implement Beans Make Bacon into their own classrooms by signing up to receive a Beans Make Bacon activity guide. The Kansas Soybean Commission will provide instructions on how to correctly prepare the activity for the classroom. Included with the guide will be Beans Make Bacon stickers and table signs.
The Beans Make Bacon campaign’s goal is to reach as many people as possible. It illustrates how soybeans connect to animal agriculture in a sense people can easily understand. From the field to a plate, soybeans provide proper nutrition not only for animals, but they also are a valuable component for human diets.