On July 29th, 2021, SYNLawn hosted more than 300 guests for the Farmers on the Green event. The interactive SYNLawn® exhibition focused on teaching children and adults the benefits and science behind soybean farming and how it contributes to our environmental sustainability. The Boys and Girls Club in Harlem was the perfect place to host Farmers on the Green after donating a brand-new landscape made from SYNLawn® bio-based artificial turf. Throughout the day, children and adults learned from the many speakers and exhibits at Farmers on the Green, exploring different points of what goes into SYNLawn® artificial turf, completing crafts to take home to further their exploration into a brighter economic future, and how our agricultural habits can reshape our daily lives.
“The SYNLawn® New York team was very happy to support the Boys and Girls Club of Harlem with the artificial turf donation and our collaboration with them to bring the event to life,” said Anastasia Phillips, owner of SYNLawn® New York. “All the praise for the success of the event goes to Dominique Jones and Melanie McKenzie-Layne. They were wonderful partners to continue our efforts making safe places for children to play, learn and engage with their community, all while learning how farming and rural community life affects all of us. I am very grateful to the Boys and Girls Club, and I continue to be impressed with all of their efforts.”
Justin Maxson, USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development, made a very special appearance at Farmers on the Green to further express the prosperity of the bio-based industry and present his newest report, “An Economic Impact Analysis of the U.S. Biobased Products Industry.” He spent his time after his presentation enjoying the exhibits with children and parents spreading knowledge and encouragement about our steps in the right direction towards environmental growth and stability.
For this event, SYNLawn® collaborated proudly with the Indiana Soybean Alliance and the following groups to educate the children in attendance about the science and sustainability of soy-based materials.
United Soybean Board
New York Corn and Soybean Growers Association
John Bowne agricultural science program and FFA chapter from Flushing
Boys and Girls Club of Harlem
The Indiana Soybean alliance booth featured a craft station that allowed children to create their very own soybean necklace that they could then home to grow for themselves. A beautiful way to symbolize the growth that can be achieved to save our environment just one seed at a time.
Other educational demonstrations from Farmers on the Green included:
The New York Corn and Soybean Association showed how soybeans are utilized to protect soil from erosion
Ralph Lott, a United Soybean Board Vice-Chair, taught visitors about how soybeans are used in more than 1,000 products
Jenny Frank, Next Generation Scientist for Biodiesel co-chair and graduate student at The State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, environmental bingo was established, and children were introduced to cleaner-burning biodiesel used to power New York City’s cars, as well as Bioheat® for buildings
SYNLawn® put this event together to further exemplify our mission to promote environmental stability. We are proud to be the first artificial turf company with products certified by the USDA for utilizing more than 70% bio-based contents. Our synthetic turf is manufactured using sugar cane and soybean oil to significantly reduce petroleum-based polymers in our products. These recyclable materials allow us to conserve water, reduce the impact on landfills, and significantly reduce carbon emissions without the need for maintenance
