INDIANAPOLIS – From the farm fields of Indiana, soybeans grown by Hoosier farmers took the spotlight of the largest food competition during this year’s World Food Championships (WFC), Oct. 16-17, at the Indiana State Fairgrounds and Event Center. The Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA), the state’s soybean checkoff program, hosted several top chefs from Vietnam to showcase how Indiana soybeans, especially high oleic varieties, contribute to healthier and better-tasting food.

Working in tandem with the USA Poultry and Egg Export Council (USAPEEC), ISA hosted chefs and culinary influencers from Vietnam who had previously competed in the ISA-sponsored Best Poultry Challenge – Season 3. This program, held in September, was a cooking competition in Danang that highlighted U.S. chicken and duck in Vietnamese Cuisine.

The chefs traveled to Indiana this month to take part in this year’s WFC, visit Indiana farms and learn more about high oleic soybean oil. For the second consecutive year, high oleic soybean oil was provided to WFC competitors through a partnership with the event. High oleic soybean oil served as the “official cooking oil” for the WFC and was made available to all contestants via the event’s Kitchen Arena pantry.

The chefs from Vietnam performed cooking demonstrations featuring Indiana-grown poultry products prepared in high oleic soybean oil during the WFC. Among the chefs was Doan Van Tuan, the executive chef of the Furama Resort and Ariyana Convention Center in Danang. “It was an amazing experience preparing U.S. duck in high oleic soybean oil from Indiana farmers through a Vietnamese dish,” Doan said. “The customers love food prepared in the high oleic soybean oil. It’s a good color and quality.”

The Furama Resort and Ariyana Convention Center was the host of this year’s Best Poultry Challenge in Vietnam. ISA Board Director David Hardin, a farmer from Avon, Ind., attended the Challenge in Vietnam, then he hosted the chefs for a tour on his farm following the WFC. He said most of world’s population is outside of Indiana and the United States. Events like the Best Poultry Challenge and the WFC allow farmers to showcase products to a wider market.

“While in Vietnam in September, I learned it is a very dynamic market with a young population that is growing in its purchasing power,” Hardin explained. “They are the type of consumers we are looking for. We have been working with different influencers in the food space over there attempting to get U.S. products and Indiana products into their restaurants. We hope that it’s going to trickle down to the average consumer in Vietnam to eat more U.S. poultry that has been grown with Indiana soybeans.”

Influencing consumers

Chon Hoa “Crystal” Nguyen is one of those food-space, social media personalities that ISA and USAPEEC has worked with to promote the Best Poultry Challenge in Vietnam. Crystal also attended the WFC and toured Indiana farms. “This is my first time in the U.S. and in Indiana,” she said. “It’s a pleasure and an honor to work with Indiana farmers and the Indiana Soybean Alliance through programming they support highlighting the quality of their products.”

Nguyen added that it was a great opportunity for the Vietnamese chefs to showcase their talents for American consumers, too. “We are so happy and honored to represent Vietnam in these demonstrations. With the help of USAPEEC and ISA we are promoting Vietnamese cuisine using U.S. chicken and duck. It was exciting to show the different ways we use these products. The chef team visited Indiana farms, and it was exciting to see how big the machinery is and how the crop is managed sustainably while working on a large scale. It was great to see the corn and soybeans in the field. We trust the quality of the corn and soybeans that make U.S. chicken and duck healthy. Our chefs recognize the consistent quality.”

Along with Hardin, the group from Vietnam also toured the farm of ISA Director Chris Eck, who has also grown high oleic soybeans on his Shelby County farm for several years. Eck attended the Best Poultry Challenge with Hardin earlier this fall.

Hardin said improving trade relations with countries like Vietnam opens opportunities for Hoosier farmers. He added that soybean meal is a primary feed source for poultry. Five years ago, prior to the Best Poultry Challenge, Vietnam imported nearly zero U.S. poultry products. Today, Vietnam is the seventh-largest importer of U.S. poultry.

The 2025 World Food Championships, known as “Indy’s Most Delicious Event,” featured more than 400 teams battling for their share of $450,000 in prize money and the coveted title of World Champion. The event also included the 58th annual World Championship Chili Cook-off along with unique ticketed attractions including the Taste of WFC Premium Experience. Partners and fans of fine cuisine can relive WFC events by going to worldfoodchampionships.com.

High oleic soybean oil delivers enhanced functional benefits within food service operations such as superior high heat stability. Exclusively a U.S. product, it extends product shelf life and offers the longest fry life of any edible oil. High oleic soybean oil lasts longer than standard vegetable oils in high-temperature and extended-use applications because of its heat and oxidative stability. In addition, the oil’s neutral flavor profile allows it to blend well in a variety of foods and lets the true and natural flavors of the ingredients stand out.