Podcast
Conservation Stories
Hosted by Sandhills Area Research Association · EN
Conservation Stories chronicles the ongoing work of the Sandhills Area Research Association along with old and new friends in the agriculture space.
23episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Protecting the Flats: Redfish, Oyster Reefs, and the Fight for Texas Coastal Conservation
2w ago00:48:06Tap to summarizeDusty 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.
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Turning Salty Water Into a Soil Health Solution
3w ago00:45:48Tap to summarizeIn 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 TollesonWebsiteText SALTY to 9792322528Email 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.
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On the Road for Conservation: Dusty’s Field Notes from the Lodge
4w ago00:42:04Tap to summarizeTillery 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.
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Pesticide Labels, Endangered Species & What Growers Need to Know
Jun 900:42:29Tap to summarizeLeah 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.
Transcribe →Data Centers, Water, and Responsible Development in West Texas with Kassandra McQuillen
May 2600:44:10Tap to summarizeIn 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.
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FFA, Agriculture, and the Next Generation of Leaders
May 1200:30:06Tap to summarizeIn 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.
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Rain Bees: Rethinking Water, Wells, and Rainwater Harvesting with Larry Sunn
Apr 2900:39:54Tap to summarizeIn 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.
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Housing, Hope, and Human Dignity With Chase Head
Apr 1700:43:39Tap to summarizeIn 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.
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Allison Childress on GLP-1s, Food Culture, and Chronic Disease
Apr 1000:38:42Tap to summarizeIn 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.
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The Cost of Convenience: Farming, Water, and the Future of West Texas
Apr 300:43:14Tap to summarizeIn 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.
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