BROWN COUNTY – Brown County Corn and Soybean Growers Association recently donated $1,000 to the Sleepy Eye Public School FFA chapter.

The checkoff dollars were granted for the purchase of new grain sieves for the fall crop show the FFA students participate in.  

“We strive to promote agriculture education and the crop show is a great hands-on experience for the FFA students,” said Keith Lendt, chair of the Brown County Corn and Soybean Growers Association. “Providing the funds for new equipment is one way we support students in agriculture.”

The crop show is a chance for FFA students to exhibit a sample of a crop that is judged on appearance: uniform color and size as well as having no defects or unwanted debris. The students show samples of soybeans, corn, wheat, oats and other miscellaneous crops.

The new grain sieves will allow the students to better clean the samples for the exhibit.

Supporting the continued education of agriculture through schools and organizations is a key point the growers focus on throughout the year as well as making donations when possible.

The Brown County Corn and Soybean Growers Association is affiliated with the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council, which oversees the investment of soybean checkoff dollars on behalf of the nearly 28,000 farmers in Minnesota. The Council is governed by the rules of a federally mandated checkoff program that requires all soybean producers pay a fee on the soybeans they sell. Checkoff dollars are used to promote, educate and develop market opportunities for soybeans.