Advertise on podcast: Conservation Stories

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.