Backed by funding from Ohio soybean farmers and their checkoff program, GrowNextGen brings agriculture science to the classroom by providing real-world educational tools to engage the next generation workforce.

The Ohio Soybean Council (OSC) was founded in 1991 to manage the Soybean Promotion and Research Program – more commonly known as the soybean checkoff. Ohio soybean farmers pay one half of one percent of the bushel price to the soybean checkoff when they sell soybeans. OSC collects those funds and sends half to its national affiliate, the United Soybean Board. The other half remains in Ohio and is invested under the direction of a board of soybean farmers from around the state who are elected by their peers. The program’s primary goal is to improve soybean profitability by targeting research and development, education and promotion projects through the investment of farmer-contributed funds OSC farmer leaders review and, as necessary, revise the organizational strategic plan. This process helps OSC stay ahead of market trends in order to make the best short and long-term investment decisions on behalf of Ohio soybean farmers.