Conservation Stories

Sandhills Area Research Association
  • 4.7 (7)
  • Non-Profit
  • Updated Weekly

Conservation Stories chronicles the ongoing work of the Sandhills Area Research Association along with old and new friends in the agriculture space.

  1. 1d ago

    Dryside Dispatch • September 4th • Space4Ag with Tillery Sims

    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.

  2. 4d ago

    Planning for Texas Water: Science, Financing, and the Future of Supply

    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.

    Planning for Texas Water: Science, Financing, and the Future of Supply

  3. Sep 3

    Dry Side Dispatch • August 28th • Rhett Overman

    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.

  4. Sep 1

    Putting Wild Sheep Back on the Mountain: Bighorns, Aoudad, and Conservation at Scale

    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.

    Putting Wild Sheep Back on the Mountain: Bighorns, Aoudad, and Conservation at Scale

  5. Aug 27

    The Dry Side Dispatch • August 21th • Todd Baughman

    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.

  6. Aug 25

    Catching Every Drop: Rainwater Harvesting, Stormwater Reuse, and the Future of Water Conservation

    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.

    Catching Every Drop: Rainwater Harvesting, Stormwater Reuse, and the Future of Water Conservation

  7. Aug 20

    The Dry Side Dispatch • August 14th • Nick Bergfeld

    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.

  8. Aug 18

    Leasing the Land: Renewable Energy, Conservation Easements, and the Next Generation of Stewardship

    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.

    Leasing the Land: Renewable Energy, Conservation Easements, and the Next Generation of Stewardship
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Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

4.7
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Conservation Stories chronicles the ongoing work of the Sandhills Area Research Association along with old and new friends in the agriculture space.

Information

  • Creator
    Sandhills Area Research Association
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    113
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024
  • Show Website
    Conservation Stories

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