Conservation Stories
Sandhills Area Research Association
All episodes
Best episodes
Seasons
Top 10 Conservation Stories Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Conservation Stories episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Conservation Stories for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Conservation Stories episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
Advocating for Conservation with Wesley Gibson
Conservation Stories
10/18/24 • 68 min
More about our guest:
Wesley Gibson, South Central Region Representative of the National Association of Conservation Districts
Website • Instagram • Facebook • To get info for your district, to get involved or join a public meeting • SFI - Sustainable Forest InitiativeFor more information about SARA, please visit sara-conservation.comFollow 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:
• Dr. Darryl Birkenfeld, Deputy Director, Ogallala Commons
• Stephen Rockwood, Conservation Specialist with Ducks Unlimted (Part 2)
• Dusty Timmons, Vineyard Manager for Lost Draw Vineyards, Former Viticulturist for AgriLife Extension Service
Generational Agriculture with Kyle Bingham
Conservation Stories
05/04/24 • 26 min
In this episode, Tillery Timmons-Sims interviews Kyle Bingham, a second generation farmer from Binham Family Vineyards in Meadow, Texas. The Binghams are a wine growing family that produces 100% Texas-grown and crafted estate wines & CBD. Kyle and his father Cliff are well known in the region for their pioneering spirit and diversified adoption of farming practices.
More about our guest:
Bingham Family Vineyards • Instagram • Facebook • Website
For more information about SARA, please visit sara-conservation.comFollow SARA for more updates • Instagram • Facebook • LinkedIn • X/Twitter
To view the video with this episode, please visit the SARA website or YouTube.
This podcast is sponsored by Cotter Key Farms. With roots stretching back to 1887, Cotter Key Farms is a great example of heritage and quality. The Vardeman family, now in their fifth generation on the cotton farm and eighth generation on the ranch continues a legacy of producting some of the finest beef and pork in Texas. This is a place where history and modern practices blend to create a product that stands apart. The farm's dedication to quality is evident in every cut of meat. Experience the exceptional taste of Cotter Key Farms from succulent steaks to savory pork sausage. Order your meat online today for local delivery or shipping at: cotterkeyfarms.com
Conservation Stories is presented by The Sandhills Area Research Association (SARA). Subscribe now to hear all the interviews.
Upcoming Episodes Include:
• Jeremy Brown, Broadview Agriculture Inc
• Lacy Cotter-Vardeman, Cotter Key Farms
• Matt Campbell, West Texas Meats
• Jessica Tullar-Caroom, Growing Together Texas
Bringing Space Tech to the Farm: NASA's Role in Agriculture with Dr. Alyssa Whitcraft
Conservation Stories
02/21/25 • 53 min
In this episode of Conservation Stories, host Tillery Timmons-Sims speaks with Dr. Alyssa Whitcraft, a research professor at the University of Maryland and a leader in NASA’s agricultural initiatives. They discuss how satellite technology is revolutionizing farming, providing real-time data on crop conditions, weather patterns, and soil health.
Dr. Whitcraft explains how NASA’s Acres Program aims to bridge the gap between space-based data and on-the-ground farming decisions. By working directly with farmers and agricultural organizations, the initiative helps improve yield forecasting, resource management, and climate resilience. They also explore the Farm Innovation Ambassador Team (FIAT) program, which fosters collaboration between researchers and producers to ensure that satellite-driven insights directly benefit the farming community.
The conversation highlights the critical role of farmers in global food security and economic stability. With agriculture facing increasing challenges—from climate change to economic pressures—this episode emphasizes the importance of innovation, collaboration, and ensuring that farmers have access to the best technology available.
More About Our Guest:
Dr. Alyssa Whitcraft is the founding Executive Director of NASA Acres and the former and co-founding Deputy Director for NASA Harvest. She also direct the Harvest Sustainable and Regenerative Agriculture (SARA) Initiative.
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:
• Aric Denton co-Founder and CEO of DJR Labs
• Kelly Mulville, Vineyard Director at Paicines Ranch
• Ty and Chelsea Criswell, Acre and Rust
The Right Seed for the Right Spot with Rob Cook
Conservation Stories
12/13/24 • 42 min
In this episode, Tillery Timmons-Sims interviews Rob Cook, Director of Business Development at Bamert Seed Company, and Chairman at National Grazing Lands Coalition. Rob Cook taught us all about native seed, how seed can help you change up your land use, and why it matters. The biodiversity of the root systems are extremely important and helpful to our land. Weeds go by a new name at Bamert: "Mother Nature's scabs." Use Seedspec.com to develop your own custom seed blend for your land.
More about our guest:
Rob Cook
Director of Business Development at Bamert Seed Company
Chairman at National Grazing Lands Coalition
Seedspec.com
Noble Research Institute Senora Station
Grazing Conference
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:
• Jeff Dudensing, Agricultural Program Specialist, USDA-Farm Service Agency-Texas State Office
• Ethan Triplett, Ph.D., Revival Mill
• Chris Grotegut, Veterinarian and Ag producer in Deaf Smith County
Transforming Produced Water: A New Frontier in Water Sustainability with Mike Hightower
Conservation Stories
01/31/25 • 30 min
In this episode of Conservation Stories, host Tillery Timmons-Sims speaks with Mike Hightower, director of the New Mexico Produced Water Research Consortium, about the groundbreaking efforts to transform produced water— a byproduct of oil and gas extraction— into a valuable resource.
Hightower explains the staggering volume of produced water generated in the Permian Basin and how research is leading the way in treating and reusing this water for agricultural, industrial, and potentially even municipal purposes. He outlines the scientific and regulatory steps taken to ensure safe treatment, the economic benefits of reusing produced water, and the innovative technologies being deployed, including thermal and membrane filtration methods.
The conversation also explores the challenges of overcoming misconceptions about produced water, the potential for reducing seismic activity linked to deep-well injections, and the broader implications for water stewardship in arid regions like West Texas and Eastern New Mexico. Hightower emphasizes that responsible water management is not just about conservation—it's about using all available resources wisely to support economic development and long-term sustainability.
Listeners will gain insight into how energy production and water management intersect and why this emerging field could play a crucial role in securing water for the future.
More About Our Guest:
Mike Hightower - Director of NM Produced Water Research ConsortiumNew Mexico Produced Water Research Consortium
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:
• Texas Senator Charles Perry
• Stephen Hummel, Dark Skies Initiative Coordinator, McDonald Observatory / The University of Texas at Austin
• Dr. Alyssa Whitcraft, Executive Director of NASA Acres and the former and co-founding Deputy Director for NASA Harvest
The History and Making of Wine with Dusty Timmons
Conservation Stories
11/15/24 • 54 min
In this episode, Tillery Timmons-Sims interviews Dusty Timmons, Vineyard Manager for Lost Draw Vineyards, Former Viticulturist for AgriLife Extension Service and Tillery's brother. The episode is jam-packed with history and wine knowledge. We discussed the gamble of grape growing, how to make good wine and why people are now drinking less wine.
More about our guest:
Dusty Timmons, Vineyard Manager for Lost Draw Vineyards, Former Viticulturist for AgriLife Extension Service
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:
• Stephen Rockwood, Conservation Specialist with Ducks Unlimted (Part 2)
• Dr. Jim Mazurikiewicz, Professor Emeritus & Ag Leadership Program Director - Texas A&M AgriLife Extension - Texas A&M University
• Rob Cook, Director of Business Development at Bamert Seed Company, and Chairman at National Grazingland Coalition
Planning for Future Water with Ben Samuels
Conservation Stories
01/03/25 • 50 min
In this episode of Conservation Stories, host Tillery Timmons-Sims sits down with Ben Samuels, a leader in water resource management and vice president of the Produced Water Society, for a thought-provoking conversation about the future of water conservation and stewardship. Ben shares insights into the complexities of "produced water," a byproduct of oil and gas production, and its evolving role in addressing water scarcity.
The discussion spans a wide range of topics, including international water policies, state-specific water rights, the environmental and economic challenges tied to water management, and the role of technology in finding sustainable solutions. They explore how historical water compacts, like the Colorado River Compact, shape current policies and the innovative ways stakeholders are addressing modern challenges, from agriculture to industrial reuse.
Ben also highlights the need for collaborative solutions, data-driven decision-making, and public engagement to address the global water crisis. This engaging episode offers a balanced look at present and future water strategies while emphasizing the importance of stewardship for generations to come.
More Information about Our Guest:
Ben Samuels, President of Energized Tech Ventures and VP of Produced Water Society
Twitter | 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.
Upcoming Episodes Include:
• Ethan Triplett, Ph.D., Revival Mill
• Tom Sell - Combest, Sell Firm in DC, Southwest Council of Agribusiness
The Other Half of Cattle with Mark & Jim Kleinschmit of Other Half Processing and Growing GRASS
Conservation Stories
12/06/24 • 37 min
In this episode, Tillery Timmons-Sims interviews brothers Mark & Jim Kleinschmit, CEO and COO of Other Half Processing and Growing GRASS.
Other Half Processing (OHP) is the leading supplier of traceable hides, leather & byproducts from verified regeneratively raised livestock.
They share they're history and what led them to start this organization. Their ideas on how to de-risk rebuilding supply chains, why the market for these items disappeared and why its important to bring it back.
OHP has partnered with the American Sustainable Business Institute and a team of agricultural, research, community and industry leaders to bring us Growing GRASS: an interdisciplinary research and demonstration project to advance GRASS as a regenerative & climate-smart verification based market that increases the value of beef and bison byproduct supply chains.
There is an opportunity to participant in a grant research project and an easy paid survey that you can fill out to see if you qualify. Mark and Jim enlighten us of the details of the survey and project during our conversation.
More about our guest:
Mark & Jim Kleinschmit, CEO and COO, Other Half Processing and Growing GRASS
email: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
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:
• Rob Cook, Director of Business Development at Bamert Seed Company, and Chairman at National Grazingland Coalition
• Jeff Dudensing, Agricultural Program Specialist, USDA-Farm Service Agency-Texas State Office
• Ethan Triplett, Ph.D., Revival Mill
Working WITH the Land with Jeremy Brown
Conservation Stories
05/17/24 • 43 min
In this episode, Tillery Timmons-Sims interviews Jeremy Brown, owner of Broadview Agriculture. Jeremy discusses his path to becoming an organic farmer, his work to regenerate the land, and how his faith informs his farming practice. Jeremy Brown is certified by Regenified for his work in land stewardship.
More about our guest:
Jeremy Brown, Broadview Agriculture Inc • Facebook • Website
For more information about SARA, please visit sara-conservation.comFollow SARA for more updates • Instagram • Facebook • LinkedIn • X/Twitter
To view the video with this episode, please visit the SARA website or YouTube.
This podcast is sponsored by Cotter Key Farms. With roots stretching back to 1887, Cotter Key Farms is a great example of heritage and quality. The Vardeman family, now in their fifth generation on the cotton farm and eighth generation on the ranch continues a legacy of producing some of the finest beef and pork in Texas. This is a place where history and modern practices blend to create a product that stands apart. The farm's dedication to quality is evident in every cut of meat. Experience the exceptional taste of Cotter Key Farms from succulent steaks to savory pork sausage. Order your meat online today for local delivery or shipping at: cotterkeyfarms.com
Conservation Stories is presented by The Sandhills Area Research Association (SARA). Subscribe now to hear all the interviews.
Upcoming Episodes Include:
• Lacy Cotter-Vardeman, Cotter Key Farms
• Matt Campbell, West Texas Meats
• Jessica Tullar-Caroom, Growing Together Texas
• Layton Schur, Frontier Market Plainview
• Wesley Gibson, National Association of Conservation Districts
• Taylor McAlpine, Local LBK / Leading Edg
Farming, Family, and Fashion: The Story Behind Acre & Rust
Conservation Stories
03/14/25 • 31 min
In this episode of Conservation Stories, host Tillery Timmons-Sims sits down with Ty and Chelsea Criswell, a farming couple from the Plainview area, to discuss their life in agriculture and their creative venture, Acre & Rust—a clothing brand that celebrates the farming way of life.
Ty, a lifelong cotton farmer, shares his journey back to the family farm and the challenges of dryland and irrigated farming in the High Plains. The discussion covers sustainability, water conservation, and the economic pressures shaping the future of agriculture. Chelsea, originally from North Texas, talks about her transition to farm life and her role in education, where she integrates agricultural literacy into her curriculum.
The Criswells also dive into the inspiration behind Acre & Rust, a brand designed to reflect the values and traditions of rural America. They share how the business started as a creative outlet and evolved into a way to connect people to the agricultural community. The conversation touches on the importance of cotton as a sustainable fiber, the misconceptions surrounding modern agriculture, and the need for farmers to be part of the conversations shaping the industry’s future.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of farming, creativity, and sustainability.
More About Our Guest:
Ty and Chelsea Criswell - Acre and Rust
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:
• Calloway Huffaker, attorney, partner at Huffaker & Harris, LLP
• Garrett Couts, Partner, Brady and Hamilton, LLP
• Tina Siemens, Author and Owner of West Texas Living Heritage Museum
Show more best episodes
Show more best episodes
FAQ
How many episodes does Conservation Stories have?
Conservation Stories currently has 41 episodes available.
What topics does Conservation Stories cover?
The podcast is about Non-Profit, Podcasts, Education and Business.
What is the most popular episode on Conservation Stories?
The episode title 'The History of SARA with Lacy Cotter-Vardeman' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Conservation Stories?
The average episode length on Conservation Stories is 38 minutes.
How often are episodes of Conservation Stories released?
Episodes of Conservation Stories are typically released every 7 days.
When was the first episode of Conservation Stories?
The first episode of Conservation Stories was released on Feb 5, 2024.
Show more FAQ
Show more FAQ