Conservation Stories

In this episode, Tillery Timmons-Sims interviews Stephen Rockwood, Conservation Specialist with Ducks Unlimited. Stephen shares the history of Ducks Unlimited Conservation and the impact they have on the Texas wetlands. If you have always known Ducks unlimited as a hunting goods company, you'll be surprised to find how interconnected the worlds of conservation and hunting really are. He teaches us about the Texas Prairie Wetlands Project, the Playa Lakes Conservation Program and easements. If you are a landowner, find out more about the programs available to you to restore your playas at the SARA conservation website!

More about our guest: 

Playa Lake Restoration Website •  Email  •  Phone  •  Tillery's Phone

For more information about SARA, please visit sara-conservation.com
Follow SARA for more updates  •  Instagram  •  Facebook  •  LinkedIn •  X/Twitter

Conservation Stories is presented by The Sandhills Area Research Association (SARA). Subscribe now to hear all the interviews.

Upcoming Episodes Include: 
• Wesley Gibson, National Association of Conservation Districts
• Dr. Darryl Birkenfeld, Deputy Director, Ogallala Commons
• Stephen Rockwood, Conservation Specialist with Ducks Unlimted (Part 2)

In this episode, Tillery Timmons-Sims interviews Ladona Clayton the Executive Director of the Ogallala Land & Water Conservancy. Ladona shared the ways she and her team are pionerring water conservation in New Mexico. She outlined 5 plans including voluntary well shut downs, pumping surface water and the reuse of millions of gallons of water. Playas play a significant role but creating a conservancy and securing funding to compensant land owners fairly is vital. With much emphasis on working together, Ladona speaks of putting the farmer first as they ask land owners to participate in their program. 

More about our guest: 

Website •  Email  •  Facebook 

For more information about SARA, please visit sara-conservation.com
Follow SARA for more updates  •  Instagram  •  Facebook  •  LinkedIn •  X/Twitter

Conservation Stories is presented by The Sandhills Area Research Association (SARA). Subscribe now to hear all the interviews.

Upcoming Episodes Include: 
• Stephen Rockwood, Conservation Specialist, Ducks Unlimited
• Wesley Gibson, National Association of Conservation Districts
• Dr. Darryl Birkenfeld, Deputy Director, Ogallala Commons

In this episode, Tillery Timmons-Sims interviews Sarah Burnett, Owner of Texas Earth. Sarah is a second generation owner of Texas Earth. Her dad who started the business was on a mission to heal the soils of the earth. Sarah taught us about regenerating the microbes in the soil, how many microbes we have, and what they do. We also discussed cover crops and the benefits those cover crops have on your land. Learn more about Texas Earth and purchase products to heal your soil at their websites listed below.

More about our guest: 
Sarah Burnett - Owner of Texas Earth, Inc.

Grow Texas Earth Website  •   Texas Earth Website  •  Email  •  Office Phone  •  Cell Phone 

For more information about SARA, please visit sara-conservation.com
Follow SARA for more updates  •  Instagram  •  Facebook  •  LinkedIn •  X/Twitter

Conservation Stories is presented by The Sandhills Area Research Association (SARA). Subscribe now to hear all the interviews.

Upcoming Episodes Include: 
• Ladona Clayton, Executive Director, Ogallala Land & Water Conservancy
• Stephen Rockwood, Conservation Specialist, Ducks Unlimited
• Wesley Gibson, National Association of Conservation Districts

In this episode, Tillery Timmons-Sims interviews Gabriel Rio, President and CEO of Milestone Environmental Services. SARA is thrilled to partner with Milestone Environmental Services to make landowners aware of proposed common-sense regulations for energy waste.

Why Should You Care? The Railroad Commission of Texas oversees the energy industry in Texas. Current regulations for energy waste have not been updated since the early ‘80s. New, proposed regulations do not protect Texas soil or groundwater, leaving landowners unprotected from future contaminated sites. This common-sense proposal needs the support of Texas citizens and landowners. Please let our railroad commissioners know how you feel about this proposal by leaving a comment on their website, sending an email, or mailing a letter. The deadline to comment is October 15.

Learn more and take steps to make your voice heard by visiting the collaborative page for SARA and Milestones

More about our guest: 
Gabriel Rio, President and CEO of Milestone Environmental Services

•  Website  • LinkedIn

For more information about SARA, please visit sara-conservation.com
Follow SARA for more updates  •  Instagram  •  Facebook  •  LinkedIn •  X/Twitter

Conservation Stories is presented by The Sandhills Area Research Association (SARA). Subscribe now to hear all the interviews.

Upcoming Episodes Include: 
• Ladona Clayton, Executive Director, Ogallala Land & Water Conservancy
• Sarah Burnett, Texas Earth Inc
• Wesley Gibson, National Association of Conservation Districts

In this episode, Tillery Timmons-Sims interviews Joel Pigg, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Program Specialist and Texas Well Owner Network Project Coordinator. Joel provides education on common water well issues and your oportunity to get your water tested for those. We discuss the important information about water across the state, name some specific bacteria to look out for and where to find Joel to help you learn more about your water. When was the last time you had your water well tested? These bacteria are odorless, colorless, tasteless. Visit your Agrilife Extention Office to get your water screened!

Agrilife Extention Website

More about our guest: 
Joel Pigg, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Program Specialist and Texas Well Owner Network Project Coordinator

•  Website  •  Email • Phone

For more information about SARA, please visit sara-conservation.com
Follow SARA for more updates  •  Instagram  •  Facebook  •  LinkedIn •  X/Twitter

Conservation Stories is presented by The Sandhills Area Research Association (SARA). Subscribe now to hear all the interviews.

Upcoming Episodes Include: 
• Ladona Clayton, Executive Director, Ogallala Land & Water Conservancy
• Sarah Burnett, Texas Earth Inc
• Wesley Gibson, National Association of Conservation Districts

In this episode, Tillery Timmons-Sims interviews Heather Johnson, Project Coordinator for the TXPCI program and Migratory Game Bird Specialist with the Texas Parks and Wildlife. Heather oversees the Playas Work for Texans initiative in which SARA is partnering to educate our community about Playas and their importance to the future of our water. The episode provides a closer look into playa lakes, the challenges that lay ahead of us here on the South Plains and how we can help protect our legacy of tomorrows water. 

More about our guest: 
Heather Johnson  •  Website  •  Email • Phone

For more information about SARA, please visit sara-conservation.com
Follow SARA for more updates  •  Instagram  •  Facebook  •  LinkedIn •  X/Twitter

Conservation Stories is presented by The Sandhills Area Research Association (SARA). Subscribe now to hear all the interviews.

Upcoming Episodes Include: 
• Joel Pigg, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Program Specialist and Texas Well Owner Network Project Coordinator
• Sarah Burnett, Texas Earth Inc
• Wesley Gibson, National Association of Conservation Districts

In this episode, Tillery Timmons-Sims interviews Layton Schur, owner and founder of Frontier Market in Plainview, Texas. Frontier Market is a family-owned and operated endeavor, with a cooperative approach to tend to their land, animals, and crops. Frontier Market is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10am-6pm and have an array of produce and products from local farmers and ranchers. 

More about our guest: 
Layton Schur  •  Website  •  Instagram  •  Facebook  •  TikTok  •  Phone

For more information about SARA, please visit sara-conservation.com
Follow SARA for more updates  •  Instagram  •  Facebook  •  LinkedIn •  X/Twitter

Conservation Stories is presented by The Sandhills Area Research Association (SARA). Subscribe now to hear all the interviews.

Upcoming Episodes Include: 
• Wesley Gibson, National Association of Conservation Districts
• Sarah Burnett, Texas Earth Inc
• Heather Johnson, Texas Playa Conservation Initiative

In this episode, Tillery Timmons-Sims interviews Taylor McAlpine, a facilitator with Leading EDG and the owner of Local LBK. As a proud Lubbock native and Texas Tech grad, Taylor's interest in business and marketing has created multiple avenues to support his community. 
Having evolved through a few iterations, Local LBK helps connect people to businesses and activities within their own community. Taylor and his team focus on telling the stories of Lubbock through media content crafted for social media and other publications. 
At Leading EDG, Taylor works as a facilitator, which gives him the opportunity to consult with businesses in the rural communities outside of Lubbock. Leading EDG helps small businesses develop plans and set goals that will help accelerate the growth of their business. 

More about our guest: 
Taylor McAlpine  •  Website (Leading EDG)  •  Email (Leading EDG)  •  Website (Local LBK)  •  Instagram  •  Email (Local LBK)

For more information about SARA, please visit sara-conservation.com
Follow SARA for more updates  •  Instagram  •  Facebook  •  LinkedIn •  X/Twitter

Conservation Stories is presented by The Sandhills Area Research Association (SARA). Subscribe now to hear all the interviews.

Upcoming Episodes Include: 
• Layton Schur, Frontier Market Plainview
• Wesley Gibson, National Association of Conservation Districts
• Sarah Burnett, Texas Earth Inc

In this episode, Tillery Timmons-Sims interviews Rexie Hargus, the Natural Resource Specialist – Planner with Texas Climate Smart Initiative Project and the Texas State Soil & Water Conservation Board. Through a grant funded by the TSSWCB, Rexie is helping connect farmers in the panhandle area with programs and funds available for practices like prescribed grazing, cover crops, and permanent grass planting. 

Episode Links: 
USDA Program Search
Texas Climate-Smart Initiative

More about our guest: 
Rexie Hargus  •  Facebook  •  Instagram  •  Website  •  Phone

For more information about SARA, please visit sara-conservation.com
Follow SARA for more updates  •  Instagram  •  Facebook  •  LinkedIn •  X/Twitter

Conservation Stories is presented by The Sandhills Area Research Association (SARA). Subscribe now to hear all the interviews.

Upcoming Episodes Include: 
• Layton Schur, Frontier Market Plainview
• Wesley Gibson, National Association of Conservation Districts
• Taylor McAlpine, Local LBK / Leading Edg
• Sarah Burnett, Texas Earth Inc

In this episode, Tillery Timmons-Sims interviews Rhett Kerby, the owner, Principal Soil Scientist, and Natural Resource Consultant at KerTec, LLC. Rhett is a pioneer in soil remediation. Rhett oversees the design and implementation of native ecological restoration and reclamation post-construction activities. This includes soil stabilization, native species selection, hydroseeding, drill seeding, techniques/methodology, soil health, and ecological site evaluations. 

More about our guest: 
Rhett Kerby  •  Facebook  •  Instagram  •  LinkedIn  •  Website  •  Email

For more information about SARA, please visit sara-conservation.com
Follow SARA for more updates  •  Instagram  •  Facebook  •  LinkedIn •  X/Twitter

Conservation Stories is presented by The Sandhills Area Research Association (SARA). Subscribe now to hear all the interviews.

Upcoming Episodes Include: 
• Layton Schur, Frontier Market Plainview
• Wesley Gibson, National Association of Conservation Districts
• Taylor McAlpine, Local LBK / Leading Edg
• Sarah Burnett, Texas Earth Inc