Explore every episode of the podcast Conservation Stories

Dusty Timmons visits with Camille Null, director of volunteer programs for Heroes on the Water, to talk about how kayak fishing became a powerful therapeutic outlet for veterans, first responders, and their families. Camille shares the story of how the organization began in 2007 after founder Jim Dolan saw the way time on the water helped injured service members reconnect, relax, and rebuild a sense of community.

The conversation explores the calming effect of being outdoors, the importance of finding support after service or trauma, and how Heroes on the Water’s volunteer-led chapters create safe, welcoming spaces across the country. It’s a moving reminder that healing does not always happen in a clinic — sometimes it starts with a kayak, a fishing rod, and someone willing to make the call.

We are proud to bring you our local radio show, The Dry Side Dispatch. All past episodoes of the radio show are available on the Sandhills Area Research Association You Tube channel. You can also listen live via the YouTube chanel on Friday's at Noon. All future episodes will now be included on this platform and the Sandhills Area Research Association's website. 

The Dry Side Dispatch is a West Texas radio show and media project from the Sandhills Area Research Association broadcast live on KRFE 95.9 FM. Hosted by Tillery Timmons-Sims, Andy Timmons, and Dusty Timmons, the program focuses on regional agriculture, land conservation, hunting, oil and gas, and local news

This episode of Dry Side Dispatch features Lauren Garduno of the Ports-to-Plains Alliance discussing the history, purpose, and future of the Ports-to-Plains corridor. The conversation traces how the project grew out of West Texas transportation needs and NAFTA-era trade, and how the Texas and New Mexico portions were eventually designated as future I-27. 

Garduno also looks ahead at what a modern I-27 could become, including smart-highway technology, autonomous vehicle lanes, fiber infrastructure, drone and air-taxi connections, and new freight and energy systems. The episode emphasizes the corridor’s potential to improve trade with Mexico and Canada, strengthen rural economies, relieve traffic on other interstate routes, and create a major north-south transportation link through the Great Plains.

Tillery Timmons-Sims visits with Joe Richards of Playa Lakes Joint Venture and Tomorrow’s Water to talk about the vital role playas play in groundwater recharge across the High Plains. Joe explains how these temporary wetlands function, why they matter for the Ogallala Aquifer, and how restored playas can support water quality, wildlife habitat, community water planning, and long-term agricultural resilience.

The conversation covers playa restoration, conservation programs, landowner incentives, municipal water needs, and the importance of including playas in broader water strategies. It’s a practical and hopeful look at how restoring these often-overlooked wetlands can help protect tomorrow’s water for farms, communities, and future generations.

More about our guest: 

Joe Richards, playa & water conservation outreach specialist, Playa Lakes Joint Venture

Instagram: @Richardsoutdoorphoto

Facebook @Richardsoutdoorphotography

Website Resources: 

https://richardsoutdoorphotography.com/

For more information about SARA, please visit sara-conservation.com

Support the Conservation Stories Podcast

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.

We are proud to bring you our local radio show, The Dry Side Dispatch. All past episodoes of the radio show are available on the Sandhills Area Research Association You Tube channel. You can also listen live via the YouTube chanel on Friday's at Noon. All future episodes will now be included on this platform and the Sandhills Area Research Association's website. 

The Dry Side Dispatch is a West Texas radio show and media project from the Sandhills Area Research Association broadcast live on KRFE 95.9 FM. Hosted by Tillery Timmons-Sims, Andy Timmons, and Dusty Timmons, the program focuses on regional agriculture, land conservation, hunting, oil and gas, and local news

This episode of Dry Side Dispatch features longtime Tahoka attorney, farmer, and rancher Calloway “Cal” Huffaker discussing the changing realities of rural West Texas. The conversation covers Tahoka’s history and growth, the importance of small-town schools and civic involvement, and programs that have helped shape rural communities and agriculture across the region. 

The discussion then turns to how agriculture and land use are evolving, particularly through solar and wind development, increasingly complex landowner contracts, wildlife and conservation concerns, and the need to plan for cleanup and long-term impacts. Huffaker also reflects on rising farm costs and the growing shift toward diversified income—such as livestock, hunting, renewable energy, and other land uses—as producers adapt to a changing agricultural economy. 

Dusty Timmons visits with Renee Thornton, founder and chair of the Wild Sheep Foundation’s Women Hunt program, to talk about helping more women find a pathway into hunting, conservation, and the outdoor community. Renee shares her own story as a solo adult-onset hunter and explains how that journey grew into a program designed to train, equip, mentor, and support women as they build confidence in the field.

The conversation explores Women Hunt’s Field to Fork program, the importance of firearms education and ethical hunting, the role of women in conservation advocacy, and the ripple effect that happens when women bring their families and communities into the outdoors. Renee also shares about new Women Hunt initiatives, including Mama Bear Field Camp, the Ruby Mayflower Blake Legacy Fund, and the Ignite podcast.

We are proud to bring you our local radio show, The Dry Side Dispatch. All past episodoes of the radio show are available on the Sandhills Area Research Association You Tube channel. You can also listen live via the YouTube chanel on Friday's at Noon. All future episodes will now be included on this platform and the Sandhills Area Research Association's website. 

The Dry Side Dispatch is a West Texas radio show and media project from the Sandhills Area Research Association broadcast live on KRFE 95.9 FM. Hosted by Tillery Timmons-Sims, Andy Timmons, and Dusty Timmons, the program focuses on regional agriculture, land conservation, hunting, oil and gas, and local news

This episode of Dry Side Dispatch features Texas Tech associate professor Nathan Hall discussing the science behind dogs’ sense of smell and the work of the K9 Olfaction Research and Education Lab. Hall explains how researchers study and train detection dogs for jobs ranging from explosives and narcotics detection to wildlife work and identifying agricultural problems such as plant diseases.

The conversation also explores how breed, genetics, training, weather, wind, humidity, and learned associations affect scent detection, while challenging common assumptions about which breeds have the “best” noses. The episode closes with Hall discussing current research, the lab’s student training and animal-behavior programs, and its work rehabilitating and training shelter or working-program dogs before placing them in adoptive or working homes.

Tillery Timmons-Sims visits with Evart Outlaw of American Farmland Trust to talk about protecting working lands, supporting farmers and ranchers, and helping producers adapt in a changing agricultural landscape. Everett shares the mission behind American Farmland Trust, including farmland protection, conservation easements, sound farming and ranching practices, and the importance of keeping producers on the land.

The conversation also highlights the Texas Grazing Network, a peer-to-peer mentorship program that connects ranchers with experienced producers who can help them improve land stewardship, soil health, forage production, profitability, and long-term resilience. It’s a practical and hopeful look at how guidance, community, and new perspectives can help farmers and ranchers face difficult transitions and find sustainable paths forward.

More about our guest: 

Evart Outlaw, Texas Grazing Network Manager for American Farmland Trust

Website Resources: 

https://farmland.org/texas-grazing-mentors-network/

For more information about SARA, please visit sara-conservation.com

Support the Conservation Stories Podcast

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.

We are proud to bring you our local radio show, The Dry Side Dispatch. All past episodoes of the radio show are available on the Sandhills Area Research Association You Tube channel. You can also listen live via the YouTube chanel on Friday's at Noon. All future episodes will now be included on this platform and the Sandhills Area Research Association's website. 

The Dry Side Dispatch is a West Texas radio show and media project from the Sandhills Area Research Association broadcast live on KRFE 95.9 FM. Hosted by Tillery Timmons-Sims, Andy Timmons, and Dusty Timmons, the program focuses on regional agriculture, land conservation, hunting, oil and gas, and local news

This episode of Dry Side Dispatch features Texas Tech PhD student Katherine Coyle discussing her research into whether treated “produced water” from oil and gas operations could eventually become a useful new water source for agriculture, rangeland restoration, or playa systems—not for human consumption. She explains how produced water is desalinated and polished, why disposal through underground injection has created concerns such as seismic activity and well blowouts, and how her research tests different treatment levels against West Texas soils.

Her laboratory work found that different treatment methods can significantly alter soil pH, nutrient availability, microbial activity, and the movement or accumulation of elements such as phosphorus and boron. The conversation emphasizes that highly treated water is not automatically harmless simply because it is “clean”; it may need to be remineralized or otherwise adjusted before agricultural use. The broader takeaway is that produced water shows promise, but more field trials and continued research are needed before it can be safely and reliably deployed at scale.

Dusty Timmons visits with award-winning wildlife journalist Chester Moore of the Gulf Great White Shark Society to talk about the surprising return of great white sharks to the Gulf of Mexico. Chester shares how years of sightings, research, satellite tagging, and one remarkable shark named LeeBeth helped confirm what many once doubted: great whites are not only present in the Gulf, they are part of its story.

The conversation explores shark conservation, public misconceptions, illegal harvest, the importance of large predators in marine ecosystems, and the role of storytelling in inspiring curiosity and care for wildlife. It’s a fascinating look at one of the ocean’s most iconic animals and what its presence means for the Gulf Coast.

We are proud to bring you our local radio show, The Dry Side Dispatch. All past episodoes of the radio show are available on the Sandhills Area Research Association You Tube channel. You can also listen live via the YouTube chanel on Friday's at Noon. All future episodes will now be included on this platform and the Sandhills Area Research Association's website. 

The Dry Side Dispatch is a West Texas radio show and media project from the Sandhills Area Research Association broadcast live on KRFE 95.9 FM. Hosted by Tillery Timmons-Sims, Andy Timmons, and Dusty Timmons, the program focuses on regional agriculture, land conservation, hunting, oil and gas, and local news

This episode of Dryside Dispatch features Tillery Sims recapping the recent Space4Ag/NASA Acres tour and exploring how NASA’s satellite technology could support agriculture on the High Plains. The discussion focuses on using remote sensing for soil moisture, crop conditions, weather forecasting, planting-date decisions, and more accurate agricultural data, while emphasizing the need for farmers to collaborate with researchers to “ground truth” what satellites are seeing.

The group also discusses potential local projects, including adjusting planting dates around heat and freeze risk, monitoring invasive brush and wildfire conditions, and using NASA data to help verify groundwater savings in programs that transition some row-crop acreage to grazing or dryland use. Overall, the episode highlights the growing potential for space-based technology to help West Texas producers make better decisions around water, weather, and long-term agricultural sustainability.

Tillery Timmons-Sims visits with Brian McMath, executive administrator of the Texas Water Development Board, for a helpful look at how Texas plans, studies, and funds water solutions across the state. Brian explains the agency’s three major roles — science, planning, and financing — and how those efforts support communities working on water supply, wastewater, flood mitigation, infrastructure, and long-term resilience.

The conversation explores regional water planning, the importance of local input, aging infrastructure, water loss, innovative solutions like desalination and produced water, and the financial tools available to help communities prepare for the future. It’s a clear and practical introduction to the people and systems working behind the scenes to protect Texas water.

More about our guest: 

Bryan McMath - Executive Administrator, Texas Water Development Board

Website Resources: 

https://www.twdb.texas.gov www.facebook.com/twdboard https://www.linkedin.com/company/texas-water-development-board https://www.instagram.com/waterfortexas

For more information about SARA, please visit sara-conservation.com

Support the Conservation Stories Podcast

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.

We are proud to bring you our local radio show, The Dry Side Dispatch. All past episodoes of the radio show are available on the Sandhills Area Research Association You Tube channel. You can also listen live via the YouTube chanel on Friday's at Noon. All future episodes will now be included on this platform and the Sandhills Area Research Association's website. 

The Dry Side Dispatch is a West Texas radio show and media project from the Sandhills Area Research Association broadcast live on KRFE 95.9 FM. Hosted by Tillery Timmons-Sims, Andy Timmons, and Dusty Timmons, the program focuses on regional agriculture, land conservation, hunting, oil and gas, and local news

This episode of The Dry Side Dispatch features Rhett Overman of Final Descent Guide Service, who shares how his background in agriculture and relationships with West Texas growers helped turn a passion for hunting into a successful guiding business. The conversation explores dove, geese, sandhill crane, and quail hunting, along with the importance of maintaining strong relationships with landowners and adapting to constantly changing weather and bird migration patterns.

The group also discusses how farming practices, water availability, crop choices, and habitat improvements can benefit wildlife while creating supplemental income for landowners through hunting and outdoor tourism. Conservation efforts, changing bird populations, and the role of organizations and landowners in improving habitat are recurring themes throughout the show.

Dusty Timmons visits with Gray Thornton, president and CEO of the Wild Sheep Foundation, for a wide-ranging conversation about the history, challenges, and future of wild sheep conservation. Gray explains how bighorn sheep populations declined from historic highs to near extirpation, and how hunters, agencies, landowners, and conservation groups have helped rebuild herds across North America.

The episode digs into desert bighorn restoration in Texas, the growing challenge of free-ranging aoudad, disease issues like mycoplasma ovipneumoniae, sheep translocations, predator and habitat pressures, and international conservation work with species like argali and ibex. It’s a fascinating look at what it takes to put and keep wild sheep on the mountain.

We are proud to bring you our local radio show, The Dry Side Dispatch. All past episodoes of the radio show are available on the Sandhills Area Research Association You Tube channel. You can also listen live via the YouTube chanel on Friday's at Noon. All future episodes will now be included on this platform and the Sandhills Area Research Association's website. 

The Dry Side Dispatch is a West Texas radio show and media project from the Sandhills Area Research Association broadcast live on KRFE 95.9 FM. Hosted by Tillery Timmons-Sims, Andy Timmons, and Dusty Timmons, the program focuses on regional agriculture, land conservation, hunting, oil and gas, and local news

This episode of The Dry Side Dispatch features a wide-ranging conversation with Texas AgriLife Extension’s Todd Baumann about the realities facing West Texas agriculture. The group discusses extreme differences in rainfall and drought conditions, the limitations of long-range weather forecasting, and the increasingly difficult economics of producing cotton as input costs rise and commodity prices fluctuate. They also spend time on the mental and emotional strain of farming, highlighting AgriLife’s Farm Hope program and the importance of resources that understand the unique pressures agricultural families face.

From there, the conversation expands into local food production, misconceptions surrounding “corporate farming,” ethanol and agricultural subsidies, changing farm infrastructure, and the challenges of diversifying crops and markets. The episode closes on a more forward-looking note, discussing agricultural research, new cotton varieties, rapidly advancing technology, and an upcoming event involving NASA technology and opportunities for collaboration in agriculture.

Tillery Timmons-Sims visits with Heather Kinkade of ARCSA International to talk about rainwater harvesting, stormwater catchment, and how communities can make better use of the water that falls on rooftops, streets, and developed spaces. Heather explains the difference between rainwater and stormwater, how captured water can be treated for different uses, and why these systems are becoming increasingly important as water supplies tighten.

From rain barrels and rooftop systems to rain gardens, curb cutouts, underground tanks, and large-scale commercial projects, this conversation explores practical ways homeowners, builders, cities, and entrepreneurs can rethink water conservation. It’s a hopeful look at how many small, coordinated solutions can add up to a more resilient water future.

More about our guest: 

Heather Kinkade, Executive Director for ARCSA International

Website - https://arksainternational.org/

For more information about SARA, please visit sara-conservation.com

Support the Conservation Stories Podcast

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.

We are proud to bring you our local radio show, The Dry Side Dispatch. All past episodoes of the radio show are available on the Sandhills Area Research Association You Tube channel. You can also listen live via the YouTube chanel on Friday's at Noon. All future episodes will now be included on this platform and the Sandhills Area Research Association's website. 

The Dry Side Dispatch is a West Texas radio show and media project from the Sandhills Area Research Association broadcast live on KRFE 95.9 FM. Hosted by Tillery Timmons-Sims, Andy Timmons, and Dusty Timmons, the program focuses on regional agriculture, land conservation, hunting, oil and gas, and local news

This episode of The Dry Side Dispatch explores how communities balance short-term costs with long-term value, beginning with new possibilities for treated produced water in the Permian Basin and expanding into a broader discussion of Lubbock’s growth, infrastructure, education, and public investment. The hosts and guest Nick discuss how parks, neighborhood schools, roads, utilities, and public programs can create benefits that are difficult to measure purely in dollars, while also acknowledging the need for responsible spending and better long-term planning. Much of the conversation centers on preserving a sense of community as Lubbock grows, questioning whether government should always be “run like a business,” and considering how past decisions around electricity, development, schools, and maintenance have shaped the city today.

Dusty Timmons visits with attorney and conservation advocate Cole Payne about the changing landscape of Texas land use. From wind and solar leases to battery storage, data centers, remediation requirements, and long-term landowner protections, Cole explains why landowners need to understand the details before signing agreements that could shape their property for generations.

The conversation also turns toward conservation easements and the importance of preserving working lands, wildlife habitat, and outdoor traditions. Cole shares how programs like Texas Brigades are helping young people connect with natural resources, build leadership skills, and carry conservation forward into the future.

Tillery Timmons-Sims visits with Will Masters of Ogallala Life Conservation to learn about landscape rehydration work happening in the Amarillo area. Will shares how his team is using natural materials like rocks, brush, trees, and old Christmas trees to build small “leaky dam” structures that slow runoff, capture sediment, and help water soak back into dryland creek systems.

From Wildcat Bluff Nature Center to Rock Creek in Borger, this conversation explores how small, place-based restoration projects can improve watershed health, reduce flooding, support vegetation, and create hope for a more water-secure High Plains. It’s a reminder that conservation does not always come from one silver bullet, but from many small efforts that add up over time.

More about our guest: 

Will Masters. Attorney. Environmental Educator at Wildcat Bluff Nature Center. Director at Ogallala Life (now a program of Ogallala Commons)

Instagram - ogallalalife & wmasters3

Website - www.ogallala.life

For more information about SARA, please visit sara-conservation.com

Support the Conservation Stories Podcast

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.

Dusty Timmons visits with Michael Scherer of Fishing’s Future to talk about helping families discover the outdoors through fishing, education, and conservation. Michael shares how the organization began as a way to teach families together, not just kids, and how its programs have grown to include family fish camps, school partnerships, adaptive fishing opportunities, ambassador training, and hands-on conservation education.

This conversation explores why fishing is more than catching fish. It is a way to build memories, reconnect generations, teach responsibility for natural resources, and give families the confidence to keep going outdoors together long after the first cast.

Tillery Timmons-Sims welcomes back Ladonna Clayton for a conversation about groundwater conservation, agricultural transition, and what it takes to protect the Ogallala Aquifer before the well runs dry. Ladonna shares how her work in eastern New Mexico is helping producers voluntarily retire irrigation wells, conserve water, and transition to new forms of agricultural production without leaving families or communities behind.

The episode explores incentive-based water conservation, conservation easements, aquifer rebound data, the role of state and federal funding, and the possibility of a “CRP for water” approach that could help farmers, ranchers, municipalities, and rural economies adapt for the future.

More about our guest: 

Ladona Clayton, Executive Director, Ogallala and & Water Conservancy

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Dr.LKC/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ladona-clayton-8a98a423/

Website - ogalwc.org

For more information about SARA, please visit sara-conservation.com

Support the Conservation Stories Podcast

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.

Dusty Timmons visits with Dana Dykema of the Ignite Podcast and Women Hunt to talk about her path into hunting as an adult, beginning with a desire to better understand where her food comes from. Dana shares how her work connecting local farmers with consumers led her into conversations about regenerative agriculture, conservation, and eventually hunting as a deeper expression of food responsibility.

The conversation follows Dana’s first hunt, her family’s growing interest in the outdoors, the challenges of learning as an adult-onset hunter in Canada, and the community she has found through Women Hunt, the Wild Sheep Foundation, and the Ignite Podcast. It’s a story about food, family, courage, and finding your place in the conservation world.

Tillery Timmons-Sims visits with Mark Funderburk, president and CEO of UMC Health System, to talk about healthcare, leadership, service, and the role UMC plays across Lubbock and the surrounding region. Mark shares his personal path into healthcare, UMC’s mission as a public hospital, and the importance of building a sustainable culture where employees, patients, and communities feel supported.

The conversation explores rural healthcare, regional medical access, trauma and burn care, EMS, cancer treatment, urgent care, employee well-being, and the long-term investments needed as Lubbock continues to grow. It’s a meaningful look at how healthcare, community, stewardship, and service intersect in West Texas.

More about our guest: 

Mark Funderburk, President & CEO, UMC Health System

For more information about SARA, please visit sara-conservation.com

Support the Conservation Stories Podcast

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.

Dusty Timmons sits down with longtime Texas fly fishing guide and conservation advocate Chuck Naiser to talk about the decades-long work of protecting the Texas Gulf Coast. From the early fight to stop commercial gill netting of redfish and trout to Chuck’s current work with FlatsWorthy and oyster reef preservation, this conversation explores what it takes to defend a natural resource before it reaches the tipping point.

Chuck shares the history, hard lessons, and persistence behind coastal conservation efforts, including the creation of oyster reef sanctuary areas, the importance of healthy bay ecosystems, and why responsible stewardship matters for anglers, communities, and future generations.

In this episode of Conservation Stories, Tillery sits down with Marshall Tolleson of HSI Water to talk about irrigation water, soil salinity, and the chemistry behind healthier fields. Marshall shares his path from ag research and extension work to helping bring sulfur-based water treatment technology to Texas, explaining how sulfurous acid systems can help reduce salt buildup, improve infiltration, support nutrient availability, and make every inch of irrigation water work harder.

More about our guest:
Marshall Tolleson
Website
Text SALTY to 9792322528
Email

For more information about SARA, please visit sara-conservation.com

Support the Conservation Stories Podcast

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.

Tillery Timmons-Sims is joined by her brother, Dusty Timmons, for a behind-the-scenes introduction to a new series of interviews recorded at a hunting and fishing lodge gathering conservation leaders, outdoor advocates, podcasters, and nonprofit voices from across the country. Dusty shares stories from his weekend of recording 11 conversations, covering everything from great white sharks in the Gulf of Mexico and desert bighorn sheep in Texas to oyster reef restoration, women in hunting, veterans on the water, family fishing programs, and the power of simply getting people outdoors.

This episode sets the stage for an upcoming run of conversations about conservation, community, access, and the ripple effects that happen when people see a need and decide to do something about it.

Leah Duzy returns to Conservation Stories for a practical conversation about the changing intersection of pesticides, endangered species protections, and EPA label requirements. Leah and Tillery discuss new herbicide, insecticide, and rodenticide strategies, what growers may start seeing on pesticide labels, and how mitigation practices like buffers, cover crops, no-till, and runoff management can help keep farms compliant. They also talk through the challenges of managing requirements field by field, the role of state enforcement, and why reading the label matters whether you’re farming hundreds of acres or spraying weeds in your own backyard.

More about our guest: 

Leah Duzy, Principal Consultant, Compliance Services International

Email - lduzy@complianceservices.com

Website - www.complianceservices.com

For more information about SARA, please visit sara-conservation.com

Support the Conservation Stories Podcast

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.

In this episode of Conservation Stories, Tillery Timmons Sims is joined by attorney, Texas Tech professor, and renewable energy consultant Kassandra McQuillen for a conversation about the rapid development of data centers in West Texas. Together, they unpack what data centers are, why they require significant energy and water resources, and what proposed projects could mean for communities, landowners, and the Ogallala Aquifer.

Using the proposed Fermi data center project near Amarillo as a case study, Kassandra explores questions surrounding land use, water rights, public accountability, energy infrastructure, and informed community decision-making. This episode is not about telling listeners what to believe, but about providing the facts needed to better understand the potential impacts of large-scale development in a water-limited region.

In this episode of Conservation Stories, host Tillery Timmons-Sims sits down with Texas FFA state officers Madison Diezi and Kinley Hoelscher to explore the impact of FFA on students, agriculture, and future leadership. They discuss how FFA goes far beyond livestock shows and farming, helping students build communication skills, professionalism, advocacy, and lifelong community. From rural roots to urban agriculture, this conversation highlights why FFA continues to play an important role in preparing young people for careers in agriculture and beyond.

More about our guest: 

Maddison Diezi, Texas FFA State Officer (Area XI) Kinley Hoelscher, Texas FFA State Officer (Area I)

Instagram - @TexasFFA

Facebook - Texas FFA Association

Website - TexasFFA.org

For more information about SARA, please visit sara-conservation.com

Support the Conservation Stories Podcast

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.

In this episode of Conservation Stories, Tillery Timmons-Sims talks with Larry Sunn of Rain Bees about rainwater harvesting as a practical water solution for drought-prone areas like West Texas. Larry breaks down how much water can be collected from a roof, what kind of tank size a family might need, how filtration works for potable and non-potable use, and why shifting away from wells and water-hungry landscapes may become increasingly important. The conversation also explores the economics of rainwater systems, public water concerns, aquifer recharge, and how education can help communities rethink the way they value and manage water.

More about our guest: 

Larry Sunn, Rain Harvesting Consultant

Email

Website

For more information about SARA, please visit sara-conservation.com

Support the Conservation Stories Podcast

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.

In this episode of Conservation Stories, Tillery Timmons-Sims visits with Chase Head about the connection between housing, poverty, dignity, and community care in Lubbock. Drawing from his work with the South Plains Food Bank and Yucca Properties, Chase shares how his real estate business has become a way to provide stable housing, practical support, and renewed hope for people facing homelessness, fixed incomes, and difficult transitions. The conversation explores empathy, the fragile realities many families face, and the ways ordinary people can make a real difference through generosity, relationships, and a willingness to see the humanity in others.

Conservations Stories will be releasing earlier in the week so you no longer have to wait til friday! Subscribe to be notified when the next eposode drops.

Dry Side Dispatch, a radio show centered around conservation, agriculture, hunting, and news in West Texas was recently launched. You can tune into Tillery Timmons-Sims, Andy Timmons, and Dusty Timmons' discussions and interviews on KRFE 95.9 FM on Fridays.

More about our guest: 

Chase Head, Owner and CEO, Yucca Properties LLC and West Sage Real Estate

Email

Website

Phone: (806)905-7565

For more information about SARA, please visit sara-conservation.com

Support the Conservation Stories Podcast

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.

In this episode of Conservation Stories, the conversation stretches beyond traditional ag topics and into the growing intersection of nutrition, health, and the future of food. Host Tillerry Timmins-Sims sits down with Allison Childress, a registered dietitian, Texas Tech faculty member, and co-founder of a culinary medicine startup, to talk about how food can be used to manage chronic disease, how their app helps people navigate complex dietary needs, and why GLP-1 medications may be reshaping not just personal health, but consumer behavior, grocery buying habits, and even agricultural markets. It’s a wide-ranging discussion about obesity, stigma, food choice, produce culture, and the ways health trends may influence what farmers grow and how communities eat.

Conservations Stories will be releasing earlier in the week so you no longer have to wait til friday! Subscribe to be notified when the next eposode drops.

Dry Side Dispatch, a radio show centered around conservation, agriculture, hunting, and news in West Texas was recently launched. You can tune into Tillery Timmons-Sims, Andy Timmons, and Dusty Timmons' discussions and interviews on KRFE 95.9 FM on Fridays.

More about our guest: 

Dr. Allison Childress RDN, CSSD, LD Associate Professor of Practice, Clinical Dietitian and CEO of 3 CulinaryMed Docs

Website

LinkedIn

For more information about SARA, please visit sara-conservation.com

Support the Conservation Stories Podcast

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.

In this episode of Conservation Stories, host Tillery Timmons-Sims sits down with Texas Tech agricultural economist Darren Hudson to explore how decades of innovation in farming have reshaped life on the South Plains. Their conversation looks at the unintended consequences of the biotech revolution, from herbicide resistance and changing management practices to the economic pressures facing producers today. Together, they also dig into the bigger picture: water use, the future of irrigation, and what declining agricultural resources could mean not just for farmers, but for Lubbock and the surrounding communities that depend on agriculture. It’s a thoughtful, wide-ranging discussion about economics, conservation, and how West Texas might adapt to a harder future with less water.

More about our guest: 

Darren Hudson, Combest Endowed Chair and Associate Dean, Davis College, Texas Tech University

Email

Twitter: @CompetitiveAg

For more information about SARA, please visit sara-conservation.com

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In this episode of Conservation Stories, Tillery Timmons-Sims talks with Paul Sousa, a California dairy advocate and former water-quality regulator, about what the rest of agriculture can learn from California’s intense regulatory environment. Their conversation looks at the tension between environmental compliance and agricultural viability, especially around water, groundwater nitrates, methane reduction, and the rising cost of regulation for producers. Sousa explains that while California’s rules can be burdensome and politically frustrating, they have also pushed innovation, created new support industries, and in some cases opened up real opportunities, such as methane digesters that generate additional farm revenue and collaborative water-quality programs that pair regulation with practical solutions. Overall, the episode is a nuanced discussion about how policy, when paired with funding and industry partnership, can either burden agriculture or help drive smarter, more resilient systems for the future.

More about our guest: 
Paul Sousa
Director of Regulatory and Environmental Affairs

Email

Western United Dairies Website

For more information about SARA, please visit sara-conservation.com

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

In this episode of Conservation Stories, Tillery Timmons-Sims talks with Arkansas farmer Adam Chappell about the economic pressures reshaping modern agriculture, from corporate consolidation and weakened competition to the policy choices that keep farmers trapped in an increasingly fragile commodity system. Drawing on both lived experience and hard data, Chappell explains how seed, chemical, machinery, and grain markets have become so concentrated that many farmers have little real choice in what they buy, grow, or sell, even as their margins collapse. The conversation also explores the emotional and cultural cost of that system: the decline of rural community, the loss of farmer solidarity, the barriers to diversification, and the growing disconnect between consumers, policymakers, and the people producing food. 

For more information about SARA, please visit sara-conservation.com

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

In this episode of Conservation Stories, host Tillery Timmons-Sims talks with Eric Yates of NoFence about how virtual fencing technology is changing livestock and land management. Their conversation explores how GPS-enabled collars for cattle, sheep, and goats can help producers contain animals, rotate grazing areas, protect sensitive land, respond more quickly to emergencies, and even reduce labor demands in large or difficult terrain. Eric explains how the collars use audio cues and mild corrective pulses to train animals to respect invisible boundaries, while also giving producers real-time location and movement data that can help with everything from gathering livestock to spotting abnormal behavior. Overall, the episode highlights virtual fencing as a practical, conservation-minded tool that could make grazing management more flexible, efficient, and resilient for producers in Texas and beyond.

More about our guest: 
Eric Yates
National Sales Director, Nofence
nofence.com

For more information about SARA, please visit sara-conservation.com

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

In this episode of Conservation Stories, host Tillery Timmins-Sims sits down with Erin Irwin, co-founder of The Daisy Project—a new Lubbock-based nonprofit launched in April 2025 to help families feed their household pets during tough times, with the goal of preventing rehoming and abandonment. Erin shares the personal story behind the organization—created in honor of her daughter Haley and inspired by Haley’s love for animals—along with what it’s been like building a “baby nonprofit” from the ground up. They talk about the real-world impact The Daisy Project is already making (including thousands of pounds of food distributed), the boundaries required to keep services sustainable, and how local partnerships—like their space inside Missy’s Resale—help meet needs across the community.

More about our guests: 

Erin Irwin, Founder, The Daisy Project

Email: thedaisyproject@yahoo.com

Phone #: 806-901-3363

Facebook

We are active on the NextDoor app as The Daisy Project

For more information about SARA, please visit sara-conservation.com

Support the Conservation Stories Podcast

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

Upcoming Episodes Include: 

•Andrew Wright, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

• Darren Hudson, Combest Endowed Chair and Associate Dean, Davis College, Texas Tech University

In this episode of Conservation Stories, host Tillery Timmons-Sims sits down with Hugh Aljoe of the Noble Research Institute to talk about the “why” behind Noble—and how the organization evolved from early soil testing and plant research into a national leader focused on regenerative ranching. Hugh shares his own journey from West Texas roots and range science at Texas A&M to three decades at Noble, then breaks down what integrated resource management looks like in practice: pairing grazing, economics, and animal science to help producers reach their goals. The conversation digs into drought cycles, soil health, profitability, peer-to-peer learning, and why lasting change is less about chasing an “easy button” and more about principles, local context, and outcomes that keep people on the land.

More about our guests: 

Hugh Aljoe, Director of Ranches Outreach and Partnerships, Noble Research Institute

Website

YouTube

Facebook

Instagram 

For more information about SARA, please visit sara-conservation.com

Support the Conservation Stories Podcast

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

Upcoming Episodes Include: 

•Andrew Wright, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

• Darren Hudson, Combest Endowed Chair and Associate Dean, Davis College, Texas Tech University

In this episode of Conservation Stories, host Tillery Timmons-Sims sits down with Lee Lancaster to uncover a largely forgotten chapter of agricultural history: the 1970s farmer protests that sent tractors rolling toward state capitals and Washington, D.C.

Lee shares how a passing reference to modern-day protests led him to research the American Agriculture Movement, a time when farmers organized through phone trees, rallied by the thousands, and demanded “parity, not charity” — simply a fair price for what they produced. Drawing from personal family connections and firsthand accounts, this conversation explores the grit, determination, and quiet resolve of farm families who fought to protect their livelihoods and why their story still matters today.

More about our guests: 

Lee Lancaster, Author, Lee Lancaster Books

Email: julie.hdleelancasterbooks.com

Facebook

Instagram 

For more information about SARA, please visit sara-conservation.com

Support the Conservation Stories Podcast

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: 

• Hugh Aljoe, Director of Ranches Outreach and Partnerships, Noble Research Institute

• Darren Hudson, Combest Endowed Chair and Associate Dean, Davis College, Texas Tech University

In this episode of Conservation Stories, host Tillery Timmons-Sims sits down with Julie Hodges, Helen DeVitt Jones Endowed Director of Education at the National Ranching Heritage Center on the campus of Texas Tech University, to explore one of the South Plains’ greatest treasures.

Together, they unpack what a ranch really is — not just in history books, but as a living, breathing part of life on the Great Plains today. From 27 acres of preserved historic ranch structures to cutting-edge interactive exhibits, Julie shares how the museum bridges past and present, connecting visitors to the land, livestock, grasslands, and the people who steward them.

They also dive into the wildly popular Ranch Life Learning Center inspired by Hank the Cowdog, created in partnership with author John Erickson. Through immersive exhibits, hands-on STEM learning, panoramic ranch footage, and playful storytelling, the center answers the big question: What is a ranch? — and why does it matter?

From prairie fires and water conservation to grass as the foundation of ecosystems and livelihoods, this conversation celebrates West Texas heritage while reminding us that ranching isn’t just history — it’s happening right now.

Whether you’re a lifelong South Plains native or brand new to the region, this episode will inspire you to see the land — and the stories rooted in it — with fresh eyes.

Resource: The Ranching Heritage Center

More about our guests: 

Julie Hodges, Helen DeVitt Jones Endowed Director of Education, National Ranching Heritage Center at Texas Tech University

Email: julie.hdoges@ttu.edu

Facebook

For more information about SARA, please visit sara-conservation.com

Support the Conservation Stories Podcast

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

Upcoming Episodes Include: 
• Hugh Aljoe, Director of Ranches Outreach and Partnerships, Noble Research Institute

• Lee Lancaster, Author, Lee Lancaster Books

In this episode of Conservation Stories, host Tillery Timmons-Sims sits down with Andrew Wright, an agricultural economist with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, to unpack the real-world economics driving farm decisions on the Texas High Plains. From enterprise budgets and input costs (seed, fertilizer, chemicals, and energy) to crop insurance, price risk, and the difference between “subsidies” and risk-management safety nets, Andrew breaks down complex topics in a practical, accessible way. The conversation also looks ahead—exploring long-term water constraints tied to the Ogallala Aquifer, how producers adapt through new cropping systems and technology, and why sustainable solutions must pencil out for farmers to adopt them.

For more information about AgriLife Extension Service, contact Andrew Wright: 

email: andrew.wright@ag.tamu.edu

phone: 806-723-8458

For more information about SARA, please visit sara-conservation.com

Support the Conservation Stories Podcast

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

In this episode of Conservation Stories, host Tillery Timmons-Sims sits down with Levi Heffelfinger to explore the often-overlooked wildlife of the Texas Panhandle and the applied research shaping its future. Levi shares his work with the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute and explains why he’s based in Lubbock, diving into real-world research on mule deer, pronghorn, elk, and the changing relationship between wildlife, agriculture, and land management. Together, they discuss how irrigation changes, grazing practices, and conservation programs influence wildlife behavior—and why applied, on-the-ground science is essential for landowners, researchers, and conservationists navigating a rapidly evolving landscape.

For more information about SARA, please visit sara-conservation.com

Support the Conservation Stories Podcast

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

In this episode of Conservation Stories, hosted by Tillery Timmons-Sims, Tillery sits down with Randy Jordan and Dr. Jim Mazurkiewicz to unpack the long road behind the proposed Lubbock County Expo Center and why it matters for West Texas. Drawing on Dr. Jim’s decades-long experience helping bring the Brazos County Expo Center to life and Randy’s leadership in guiding Lubbock’s effort, the conversation explores vision, persistence, funding strategies, public trust, and the real economic impact these facilities create beyond their walls. Together, they discuss how community buy-in, phased development, and long-term thinking can turn a bold idea into a generational investment that supports agriculture, drives regional growth, and strengthens the entire South Plains.

For more information about SARA, please visit sara-conservation.com

Support the Conservation Stories Podcast

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

In this episode of Conservation Stories, host Tillery Timmons-Sims sits down with Dr. Kathryn Simpson, Associate Professor of Urban Horticulture and Sustainability at Texas Tech, to talk about an unexpected West Texas opportunity: guayule (pronounced “why-YOO-lee”)—a desert shrub that produces natural rubber and latex.

Dr. Simpson explains why guayule matters right now, from global supply-chain disruptions to the growing need for hypoallergenic latex that doesn’t carry the proteins that cause many allergic reactions. She breaks down how guayule is grown, where the rubber lives in the plant, and what it takes to move a crop from research plots to a real-world supply loop—seed, cultivation, processing, and end-use products.

The conversation also explores “rubber dandelion,” how Texas Tech fits into a multi-university research effort, and why West Texas may be a perfect testing ground for the next generation of water-smart, high-value crops.

More about our guests: 

Dr. Kathryn Simpson, Associate Professor of Urban Horticulture and Sustainability at Texas Tech

Email Catherine

LinkedIn

For more information about SARA, please visit sara-conservation.com

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

Upcoming Episodes Include: 
• Randy Jordan and Dr. Jim Mazurkiewicz

In this episode of Conservation Stories, host Tillery Timmons-Sims talks with Kerry Siders, Extension Program Specialist with Texas A&M AgriLife, about the critical role applied research plays in West Texas agriculture. Drawing on decades of experience at the Barker Research Farm, Kerry shares how extension bridges the gap between university science and on-the-ground decision-making for producers.

The conversation covers cotton production, integrated pest management, emerging threats like the cotton jassid, and how research and education help farmers adapt to changing conditions while balancing innovation and conservation. This episode offers a concise look at how practical research supports resilient farms and rural communities across the South Plains.

Resource: About the Cotton Jassid

More about our guests: 

Kerry Siders, Extension Program Specialist, IPM
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

Email Kerry

For more information about SARA, please visit sara-conservation.com

Support the Conservation Stories Podcast

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

Upcoming Episodes Include: 
• Randy Jordan and Dr. Jim Mazurkiewicz

In this episode of Conservation Stories, host Tillery Timmons-Sims sits down with Brandon Lipps to unpack the realities of hunger, food insecurity, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through the lens of Brandon’s extensive experience in agricultural policy and public service. Drawing from his work on the U.S. House Agriculture Committee, leadership at USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service, and ongoing involvement with Midwest Food Bank, Brandon offers a balanced, firsthand perspective on how SNAP works, who it serves, and why it remains both essential and deeply complex. The conversation explores misconceptions around fraud, the challenges faced by families living on the economic edge, the role of food banks during crises like government shutdowns, and the difficult policy tradeoffs surrounding benefit levels, work requirements, and long-term solutions. Grounded in both data and compassion, the episode emphasizes the human impact behind policy decisions and the importance of thoughtful, solutions-driven leadership when addressing hunger in America.

More about our guests: 

Brandon Lipps, Co-Founder & Principal, Caprock Strategies

For more information about SARA, please visit sara-conservation.com

Support the Conservation Stories Podcast

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

Upcoming Episodes Include: 
• Kerry Siders
• Randy Jordan and Dr. Jim Mazurkiewicz

In this episode of Conservation Stories, Tillery sits down with Dr. Jason Headrick, a Kentucky-born farm kid turned leadership professor in Texas Tech’s Department of Agricultural Education & Communications. From growing up on a tobacco and timber farm to researching civic leadership in rural communities, Jason shares how his roots shaped his passion for people, place, and the “social side” of agriculture.

Together, they dig into the importance of bridging the gap between consumers and producers, tackling misinformation about agriculture and food systems, and teaching students how to think critically about the news they consume. Jason also introduces his “We Love West Texas” project—an ambitious study across 41 counties looking at rural strengths, challenges, mental health, access to healthcare, and the surprising tension around cost of living. The conversation turns to who holds power in rural communities, how to make room for new and underrepresented voices at the table, and practical ways people of all ages can get involved—through surveys, local committees, festivals, and simply showing up.

If you care about the future of rural communities, leadership, or what it really means to belong and participate where you live, this episode is for you.

More about our guests: 

Dr. Jason Headrick, Assistant Professor of Leadership & Community Development, Texas Tech University, Department of Agricultural Education & Communications

Instagram 

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Support the Conservation Stories Podcast

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

Upcoming Episodes Include: 
• Todd Baughman and Peter Dot
• Brandon Lipps, Co-Founder & Principal, Caprock Strategies

In this episode of Conservation Stories, Tillery Timmins-Sims sits down with Chase Head, Chief Development Officer of the South Plains Food Bank, to unpack what hunger really looks like across their 19-county service area. Chase shares his journey from cotton R&D and agribusiness into professional fundraising, and explains how the food bank leverages the national Feeding America network and its own buying power so that every donated dollar can provide roughly three meals.

They dig into the realities behind SNAP and TFAP, who actually needs help (often working families), and how recent USDA cuts and the government shutdown have created a “perfect storm” of higher demand and less federal support. Chase also highlights the Food Bank’s youth leadership program (formerly GRUB) and five-acre garden, where local teens gain agricultural, kitchen, and workplace skills while growing fresh produce that now goes directly to client families. Throughout, Tillery and Chase return to a central theme: community generosity—through financial support, partnership, and smarter systems—is essential to keeping neighbors fed and helping the next generation break cycles of poverty.

More about our guests: 

Chase Head, Chief Development Officer, South Plains Food Bank

Email

Website 

Instagram 

Facebook

For more information about SARA, please visit sara-conservation.com

Support the Conservation Stories Podcast

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

Upcoming Episodes Include: 
• Todd Baughman and Peter Dot
• Brandon Lipps, Co-Founder & Principal, Caprock Strategies

In this episode of Conservation Stories, Tillery Timmins-Sims visits with Dr. Peter Dotray, a weed scientist with a rare three-way appointment split between Texas Tech University, AgriLife Extension, and AgriLife Research, alongside regular guest Dr. Todd Bauman. Peter shares how his role bridges research, classroom teaching, and on-the-ground extension, helping ensure that new science actually reaches producers and is shaped by their real-world questions. The conversation walks through how weed populations change over time, how herbicide resistance develops, and why overreliance on a single chemistry is so risky—especially in cotton-centric West Texas.

They unpack what a “weed” really is, the ecological roles weeds can play, and how modern plant breeding and GMOs compare to the kinds of crosses farmers and breeders have been making in fields for decades. Peter and Todd explain herbicide-resistant crops, the strict regulation around new chemistries, and how today’s products use far lower rates with much lower mammalian toxicity than the highly toxic pesticides of previous generations. They also get into drift and volatilization concerns, temperature inversions, and how better nozzles, equipment, and training are improving on-target applications.

The episode closes by looking at reduced-input weed management, integrating tools like cover crops, precision tillage, flame cultivation, electrocution, and more competitive crop varieties alongside herbicides—always with economics and soil health in mind. Throughout, the three reflect on the cultural and relational side of these decisions in small farming communities, the mounting financial pressure on today’s producers, and the importance of praying for and supporting farmers as agriculture faces challenges reminiscent of the 1980s.

More about our guests: 

Todd Baughman Texas A&M AgriLife Research & Extension Center Director

Email

Website 

For more information about SARA, please visit sara-conservation.com

Support the Conservation Stories Podcast

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

Upcoming Episodes Include: 
• Todd Baughman and Peter Dot
• Brandon Lipps, Co-Founder & Principal, Caprock Strategies

In this episode of Conservation Stories, Tillery welcomes back a returning guest in a brand-new role — Liz Hirschfield, now Executive Director of Cotton Council International. Liz shares her journey from J.Crew/Madewell to consulting, and now to leading CCI’s global mission of expanding demand for U.S. cotton across more than 15 countries.

Liz explains how CCI works under the National Cotton Council to promote U.S. cotton as the world’s most consistent, traceable, and sustainably grown fiber — and how their teams collaborate with mills, spinners, brands, and U.S. government offices to break down trade barriers and increase adoption. She highlights a major strategic push to grow markets beyond China and strengthen sourcing relationships across Latin America, where demand and manufacturing interest are rapidly rising.

The conversation dives deep into:

• Why U.S. cotton’s quality and consistency outperform global competitors

• How CCI’s “solutions team” helps mills improve yields and reduce cost through better processing

• The growing interest in regenerative cotton vs. traditional organic

• Global misconceptions about GMOs, sustainability, and the realities of modern farming

• How brands are reevaluating synthetics due to microplastic pollution and health concerns

• The economic importance of raising cotton prices to reflect real production costs

• Emerging policy efforts like the Buy American Cotton Act and how listeners can support it

Liz and Tillery also explore labor issues, H2A programs, and how smarter, safer labor pipelines can strengthen agricultural communities both in the U.S. and abroad. The episode closes with a conversation on cotton’s biodegradability, consumer labels like BCI, and why everyday choices in fiber content matter for environmental and human health.

This episode gives growers, brands, and consumers alike a grounded look at where cotton stands today — and where U.S. cotton is headed next.

More about our guests: 

Liz Hershfield Executive Director Cotton Council International

Email

Website 

For more information about SARA, please visit sara-conservation.com

Support the Conservation Stories Podcast

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

Upcoming Episodes Include: 
• Todd Baughman and Peter Dot
• Brandon Lipps, Co-Founder & Principal, Caprock Strategies

In this episode of Conservation Stories, Tillery Timmons-Sims sits down with Laura Seal, Assistant Director of the AmeriCorps program housed at West Texas A&M University in Canyon. Laura explains how AmeriCorps operates as a federally funded service program that places members with nonprofits across the Texas Panhandle to strengthen community resilience in areas like health, wellness, education, land stewardship, and economic opportunity.

Together, they discuss how AmeriCorps members build the capacity of nonprofits by taking on vital roles that organizations often can’t afford to staff on their own. Laura shares insights into recruitment, training, the diversity of members—from first-time job seekers to retirees—and the real value AmeriCorps brings to both nonprofits and the members themselves through skill-building, certifications, and education awards.

The conversation highlights success stories, unique member roles (including wildlife TV segments!), and how AmeriCorps can serve as a stepping-stone into meaningful careers. Tillery emphasizes the positive impact the program has had on her own organization and encourages more nonprofits—especially in rural communities—to explore becoming partners.

The episode wraps with practical guidance on how interested organizations can get involved and why AmeriCorps is a powerful tool for growing community-driven work across the region.

More about our guests: 

Laura Seals, Assistant Director, Community Resilience Corps

Email

For more information about SARA, please visit sara-conservation.com

Support the Conservation Stories Podcast

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

Upcoming Episodes Include: 
• Todd Baughman and Peter Dot
• Liz Hershfield, Executive Director Cotton Council International
• Brandon Lipps, Co-Founder & Principal, Caprock Strategies