Conservation Stories

Sandhills Area Research Association
  • 4.7 (6)
  • 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. Allison Childress on GLP-1s, Food Culture, and Chronic Disease

    5H AGO

    Allison Childress on GLP-1s, Food Culture, and Chronic Disease

    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.

    39 min
  2. The Cost of Convenience: Farming, Water, and the Future of West Texas

    APR 3

    The Cost of Convenience: Farming, Water, and the Future of West Texas

    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 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.

    43 min

  3. MAR 27

    What California Can Teach Agriculture

    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 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.

    48 min
  4. When Farmers Lose Their Voice: The Economics of Survival in Agriculture

    MAR 20

    When Farmers Lose Their Voice: The Economics of Survival in Agriculture

    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 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.

    53 min
  5. Beyond Barbed Wire: Managing Livestock Without Fences

    MAR 13

    Beyond Barbed Wire: Managing Livestock Without Fences

    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 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.

    34 min
  6. When Families Struggle, Pets Feel It Too

    MAR 6

    When Families Struggle, Pets Feel It Too

    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 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:  •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

    33 min
  7. Why Noble Exists: Soil, Stewardship, and Staying on the Land

    FEB 27

    Why Noble Exists: Soil, Stewardship, and Staying on the Land

    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 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:  •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

    53 min
  8. Parity, Not Charity: The Forgotten Farmer Protests of the 1970s

    FEB 20

    Parity, Not Charity: The Forgotten Farmer Protests of the 1970s

    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

    48 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.7
out of 5
6 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
    92
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024
  • Show Website
    Conservation Stories

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