Hundreds of 4-Hers in Cities Learn About Biotech

Soy Checkoff Creates Program to Have 4-H Teens Teach City Kids about Biotechnology

4-Hers put their heads and hands to work while learning more about biotechnology and agriculture through the 4-H Teens Teaching Youth Biotechnology Program. The program, developed as a collaborative effort between the United Soybean Board (USB) and the National 4-H Council, educates hundreds of city kids about biotechnology in several urban areas.

The pilot soy checkoff-funded program kicked-off at the beginning of the year when 16 4-H teens from Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri and Ohio met in Indianapolis for a 4-day training to learn about biotechnology. The teen leaders then recruited other teens in their communities to help plan and implement biotechnology lessons for elementary and middle-school students. In total, 80 teenagers have been trained to reach 400 youth in the five states.

The program aims to help both the teen and youth 4-Hers:

• Increase knowledge of biotechnology
• Gain confidence in their ability to communicate about biotechnology
• Become more aware of the rapidly expanding career opportunities in biotechnology

“These young people represent our future scientists, politicians and other leaders,” said Laura Foell, a soybean farmer from Schaller, Iowa, and a director serving on the USB’s Biotech Initiative. “We want to make sure that all youth, not only youth in traditional rural communities, but urban communities as well, have this background in order to make sound decisions affecting how we raise our food.”

To learn more about biotechnology, or to find teacher and student resources, please visit www.getbiotechsmart.com.