Fargo (NDSC) – North Dakota and Barnes County farmers, through their soybean checkoff dollars, are giving back to local first responders this winter while promoting soy-based innovation at the same time.

In January, the North Dakota Soybean Council (NDSC) provided a grant to the Barnes County Sheriff’s Department for the purchase of Goodyear soy-based tires for two of their squad cars.

“We are a small department with a limited budget, so this grant helps us out a lot when we can save some money on larger purchases, like tires,” states Emma Nelson, office deputy with the Barnes County Sheriff’s Office. “Quality tires are a necessity for our department’s vehicles, as they need to be robust enough in design in order to handle the demands and operating conditions that our patrol vehicles often encounter.”

The NDSC is providing grants, up to $1,000 per organization, for the purchase of Goodyear soy-based tires for first responders across the state. The board wants to give back to their communities, while also supporting the various uses for soybeans.