At the 2024 Husker Harvest Days, soybeans took center stage in an unexpected way—fighting fires. The Nebraska Soybean Board (NSB) held a drawing for a donation of SoyFoam firefighting foam, a soy-based product designed to improve safety for firefighters. The lucky winner was Kyla Gewee, a volunteer EMT with the Brainard Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department and a paraprofessional at East Butler Schools. Kyla chose to donate the product to her local fire department, where it will support their efforts to serve the community.
for wetting agents Class A from 0.1%-1.0% and
Class B from 1%-3%
SoyFoam TF 1122, developed through a partnership between the United Soybean Board and Cross Plains Solutions, is an excellent alternative to traditional firefighting foams that contain harmful per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) chemicals. PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” pose serious health risks to firefighters and can contaminate the environment. In contrast, SoyFoam is 100% free of PFAS, biodegradable and certified as 84% biobased through the USDA BioPreferred® program. It’s also the first firefighting foam to achieve GreenScreen Certified® Gold status, setting a high bar for safety and environmental impact.
The foam works effectively on Class A and Class B fires, providing excellent performance while eliminating the risks associated with traditional foams. Another benefit of SoyFoam for the soybean industry is that it’s made with soy flour, derived from soybean meal.
NSB staff delivered 10 five-gallon pails of SoyFoam to the Brainard Fire Department. Established in 1923, the department has been a cornerstone of the community, offering fire protection and emergency medical services.
Brainard Fire Department Chief John Bongers also expressed his enthusiasm for the product. “We are grateful that Kyla took the time to enter our department in the drawing for the SoyFoam. Small departments run on tight budgets so contributions like this help ease that burden. We look forward to using this product.”
Wesley Wach, NSB’s demand and utilization coordinator, explained the broader impact of SoyFoam: “This product is a win-win. It supports soybean growers by creating demand for soybean meal and provides firefighters with a safer tool. Cross Plains Solutions estimates that current applications of SoyFoam have the potential to use the protein from 12 million bushels of soybeans. We’re proud to help bring innovations like this to our communities.”
This donation is just one example of how the soybean checkoff connects soybean innovations to real-world applications, supporting the agriculture industry and local communities.
