Soybean Science Challenge now offering condensed online course
Nov. 10, 2025
By Ryan McGeeney
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Fast Facts:
- Program works to develop future agricultural researchers, scientists
- Online course features six modules and final exam
- Register online
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LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Soybean Science Challenge, a long-running educational program administered by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, now offers a condensed online course for Arkansas students.
Launched in 2014, the Arkansas Soybean Science Challenge was designed to cultivate interest and participation in the next generation of agricultural scientific researchers. Over the past decade, the program has led hundreds of middle school and high school students, along with their teachers and mentors, to develop research projects for science fairs across the state, earning thousands of dollars in scholarship money and prizes.
Soybeans are Arkansas’ No. 1 crop, with growers typically planting upwards of 3 million acres each year, generating more than $2.3 billion in cash receipts.
Keith Harris, Soybean Science Challenge coordinator for the Division of Agriculture, said the condensed course was “developed to highlight the importance of soybeans to the Arkansas economy and their role in providing food, fuel and other products globally.
“It is designed to encourage students to use scientific inquiry and discovery to help the Arkansas soybean industry with critical issues in production, such as soil, water, seed, disease and insect problems,” Harris said.
The program, which is co-sponsored by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board, offers real-world scientific education supporting soybean production and agricultural sustainability, Harris said.
“The condensed course does this while maintaining the content knowledge needed to conduct in-depth scientific research on soybeans and in agriculture,” he said.
Participants in the Arkansas Soybean Science Challenge are required to complete the online course, which consists of six modules and a final exam, before developing a soybean-related science project to compete in regional science fairs affiliated with the International Science and Engineering Fair. Winners in regional fairs advance to the Arkansas State Science and Engineering Fair, typically held in April.
Harris said that the condensed course currently has 17 students, with the majority of students completing the course just prior to the science fairs held February through April. Nine teachers are enrolled in the curriculum resources and teacher in-service courses.
Once a student completes the course, Harris said, they’re qualified for the competition throughout middle school and high school.
“Once a student successfully completes the course, they do not need to complete it again,” he said.
To learn more about the Arkansas Soybean Science Challenge, visit https://www.uaex.uada.edu/farm-ranch/special-programs/Education_in_Agriculture/soybean-science/.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu/. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas
System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three campuses.
Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.
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Media Contact:
Ryan McGeeney
rmcgeeney@uada.edu
501-671-2120