Soybean Science Challenge

What is the Soybean Science Challenge?

The Soybean Science Challenge has engaged thousands of students and educators nationwide since its launch in 2014. Through a blend of face-to-face and remote learning, including in-service training, virtual field trips, and hands-on lab sessions. The program also produces educational publications and mentorship opportunities, and provides awards for student research.  Through these approaches, the Soybean Science Challenge is making a tangible impact.

Watch this video to hear from teachers, students, and science fair directors as they share their experiences and insights into how the Soybean Science Challenge is transforming science education and empowering student-led agricultural research.

See the Soy Scholars: 2026 Research Winners

What is the Soybean Science Challenge?

The Soybean Science Challenge is a farmer-funded, statewide, high school education program that seeks to increase student knowledge about the value of Arkansas soybeans to the Arkansas economy, to the labor force, and ultimately to feed and fuel the world.

The Challenge is co-sponsored by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board and the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service.

Since its inception, the Challenge has reached thousands of students and teachers across the nation through in-person, online, and virtual education, in-service training, virtual field trips, classroom lab instruction, Arkansas-based educational publications, mentoring, and awards for independent student research.

Who is eligible?

Students in grades 6-12 who successfully complete the Soybean Science Challenge online course and enter a science project in one of the International Science and Engineering Fair affiliated fairs are eligible for consideration of cash awards.  Applied science projects will be considered from all categories as long as they are soybean or agriculturally related.

Recent Winners

Bennet Chen 16, A junior at Little Rock Central High School  in Little Rock, won first place in the 2026 State Soybean Science Challenge.

Bennet Chen,16, a junior at Little Rock Central High School in Little Rock, won the 2026 Soybean Science Challenge First Place Award at the State Science and Engineering Fair held at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway on April 3, and the regional Senior Division winner at Central Arkansas Regional Science and Engineering Fair on February 27.  Chen received a $1,000 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board for his state win and a $400 cash award for his regional win.  His teacher-mentor, Lee Conrad, is also pictured.

Project Title: Deep learning-based crop yield forecasting frameworks towards accurately predicting yields months ahead of harvest, deciphering the impacts of various environmental factors on domestic crops across temporal periods.

 Learn more about Bennet.

Alisa Menyaeva, 16, a sophomore at Little Rock Central in Little Rock, won second place in the 2026 State Soybean Science Challenge.

Alisa Menyaeva, 16, a sophomore at Little Rock Central in Little Rock, was the second-place state winner of the Soybean Science Challenge at the 2026 Arkansas State Science and Engineering Fair held at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway on April 3. Alisa received a $500 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Her teacher-mentor, Dr. Beth Maris, is also pictured.

Project Title: Effects of various cooking methods on soybean antioxidant retention with DPPH evaluation.

Read more about Alisa

Ariana Sadiq,15, a freshman at Pulaski Academy-Little Rock, won Honorable Mention in the 2026 State Soybean Science Challenge.

Ariana Sadiq, a freshman at Pulaski Academy-Little Rock, was the Honorable Mention state winner of the Soybean Science Challenge at the 2026 Arkansas State Science and Engineering Fair at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway on April 3.  Sadiq received a $250 award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board at state. Her teacher-mentor, Melissa Hopkins, is also pictured.

Project Title: Using different priming methods on Glycine max to yield the best results and create a drought tolerant cost-effective solution to water depletion in the Delta Region for Arkansas farmers.

Learn more about Ariana

Sara Chen, 13, an seventh grader at Pinnacle View Middle School in Little Rock, won the Junior Division Soybean Science Challenge Award at the 2026 Central Arkansas Regional Science and Engineering Fair.

Sara Chen, 13, a seventh grader at Pinnacle West Middle School in Little Rock, won the 2026 Central Arkansas Regional Science and Engineering Fair Junior Division Soybean Science Challenge Award held Feb. 27 at UA Little Rock. Chen received a $200 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Teacher Kristi Ward is also pictured.

Project title: Effects of temperature on the germination rate of soybeans.

Learn more about Sara

Presley Rogers, 14, a freshman from Genoa Central Junior High School in Texarkana, won the Senior Division Soybean Science Challenge Award at the 2026 Ouachita Mountains Regional Science and Engineering Fair.

Presley Rogers, 14, a freshman from Genoa Central Junior High School in Texarkana, won the Senior Division Soybean Science Challenge Award at the 2026 Ouachita Mountains Regional Science and Engineering Fair held February 20, in Hot Springs. Rogers received a $400 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Teacher Rita Martin is also pictured. 

Project Title: How fast can dirty water be cleared using a simple water filter made from common materials?

  Learn more about Presley

Maybn Kyles, 13, an eighth grader at Genoa Central Junior High School in Texarkana, won the Junior Division Soybean Science Challenge Award at the 2026 Ouachita Mountains Regional Science and Engineering Fair.

Maybn Kyles, 13, an eighth grader at Genoa Central Junior High School in Texarkana, won the Junior Division Soybean Science Challenge Award at the 2026 Ouachita Mountains Regional Science and Engineering Fair held Feb. 20, in Hot Springs. Kyles received a $200 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Teacher Adam Bruce is also pictured.             

Project Title: Do emotions affect Pothos plants?

    Learn more about Maybn

Jacob Davis, 18, a senior at Harrisburg High School won the 2026 Senior Division Northeast Regional Science Fair Soybean Science Challenge Award.

Jacob Davis 18, a senior at Harrisburg High School, won the 2026 Senior Division Northeast Regional Arkansas Soybean Science Challenge held February 27, at Arkansas State University-Jonesboro. Davis received a $400 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Jacob's teacher-mentor, Chad Lacy, is also pictured.

Project title: Can plants be assisted by better water?

Learn more about Jacob

Andrew Weiss, age 12, and Jake Sanders, age 13, seventh graders at Paragould Junior High School in Paragould, AR, won the Junior Division Soybean Science Challenge at the 2026 Northeast Arkansas Regional Science Fair on February 27. 

Andrew Weiss, 12, and Jake Sanders,13, seventh graders at Paragould Junior High School in Paragould, AR., won the Junior Division Soybean Science Challenge at the 2026 Northeast Arkansas Regional Science Fair on February 27 held at Arkansas State University-Jonesboro. Weiss and Sanders split the $200 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Weiss and Sanders are pictured with their teacher-mentor, Sean Grom.

Project Title: Aqua airflow

Learn more about Andrew and Jake

Gideon Blevins, 16, a sophomore at Fayetteville Christian School won the Senior Division Soybean Science Challenge at the 2026 Northwest Arkansas Regional Science and Engineering Fair.

Gideon Blevins,16, a sophomore at  Fayetteville Christian School won the Senior Division Soybean Science Challenge at the 2026 Northwest Arkansas Regional Science and Engineering Fair held March 6 at the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville. Blevins received a $400 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Blevins is pictured with his Teacher-Mentor, Dr. Pat Briney.

Project Title: The use of artificial intelligence to predict how water impacts soybean growth rate.

Learn more about Gideon

Evelyn Clark and Agustin Rosso ,14, eighth graders at St. Vincent De Paul Catholic School, won the 2026 Junior Division Soybean Science Challenge Award at Northwest Arkansas Regional Science and Engineering Fair. 

Evelyn Clark and Agustin Rosso,14, from St. Vincent De Paul Catholic School in Rogers, won the Junior Division Soybean Science Challenge at the 2026 Northwest Arkansas Regional Science and Engineering Fair at University of Arkansas-Fayetteville on March 6. Clark and Rosso split a $200 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Clark and Rosso are pictured with their teacher-mentor, Sean Grom.

Project title: Fuel for the future.

Learn more about Evelyn and Agustin

For more information on the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board, visit themiraclebean.com

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Cooking Soybeans