PRINCETON, Kent. — The Kentucky Soybean Board recently completed its first Soy on the Move campaign by fitting three vans owned by nonprofit organizations across the state with Goodyear WeatherReady Assurance Tires.
Goodyear has partnered with soybean farmers through the national soybean checkoff, administered by the United Soybean Board, to develop this more environmentally friendly line of tires using renewable, sustainable U.S. grown soybean oil. The tread compound in the Assurance WeatherReady and Assurance ComfortDrive tires contains 100 percent soybean oil – a 60-62 percent reduction in petroleum-based oils compared to their predecessors.
The Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate and Eagle Enforcer also contain soybean oil in their tread compound, resulting in a 42 and 45 percent reduction in petroleum-based oils (respectively) compared to their predecessors. The tiremaker is committed to responsibly sourcing more sustainable materials that deliver best-in-class quality and performance, and soybean oil fits that description. In addition to being renewable and sustainable, extensive testing shows that soybean oil could improve tire flexibility at low temperatures, helping the rubber to remain pliable in cold weather and enhancing traction in rain and snow simultaneously. Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady tires have been rated by Consumer Reports for 75,000 miles, which is impressive for an all-weather tire.
To raise awareness of this winning partnership, the Kentucky Soybean Board accepted applications last fall for its Soy on the Move campaign, in which Kentuckians could nominate nonprofit organizations that serve their communities to win a set of four soy-based tires. Three nonprofits were selected, and all received their tires last week.
The organizations selected include Nonnie’s Place, Potter’s Children’s Home and Family Ministries, and SpringHaven Domestic Violence Center.
Nonnie’s Place, located in Eddyville, is a safe place for homeless women and their children. Director Tina Cochrum said,“There’s always a God Thing happening at Nonnie’s. I had noticed for a while that the tires on the van we use to take our ladies to doctor’s appointments, grocery shopping, church, and court needed tires badly. I knew we needed to replace them, and the next thing I knew we got a call from the soybean board that they wanted to give us a set!” Nonnie’s founder Judy Driggers said that she was very thankful to the Kentucky Soybean Board for the tires and to Mandy Carney for nominating Nonnie’s Place.
For over 100 years, Potter’s Children’s Home and Family Ministries, located in Bowling Green, has been committed to bringing Christian-based solutions and strength to those in need to end the generational cycle of child abuse and neglect. With the growth of its residential and community programs, the ministry continues to find new and better ways to serve those in its care and reach more souls within the Bowling Green community and beyond. Potter maintains a small fleet of vehicles for resident transportation and collection of donations to support this important work. Potter’s was nominated by Ray Bowman.
SpringHaven Domestic Violence Center, located in Elizabethtown, is a shelter for abused women and their children, offering 24-hour assistance 7 days a week to anyone who is a victim of spouse/partner abuse. There is no charge for their services, including a 24-hour crisis line, individual counseling, children’s programs, legal advocacy, support groups and more. Residential services are client centered and directed. Each residential client receives safety planning, case management and individual and group support opportunities. The Center was nominated by Mary Hall.
The farmer-leaders of the Kentucky Soybean Board are pleased to support these organizations that, in turn, support some of our most vulnerable Kentuckians, and encourage anyone looking for new tires for their passenger vehicles to give these renewable, sustainable soy-based tires a try.
For more information on soybeans in Kentucky, visit kysoy.org.
— Kentucky Soybean Board
