Coleta Bratten, chair, High Plains Resource Conservation & Development Council (HPRCD), has announced that HPRCD, Woods County Conservation District, Comanche Pool Prairie Resource Foundation (Coldwater, Kansas), and the Oklahoma Conservation Commission will host a Ranch Conversation at Alva on Nov. 21. The USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has provided funding for the “Conversation” and American Farmers and Ranchers (AFR) Cooperative will provide lunch. The meeting will be held at the Northwest Technology Center, 1801 11th Street, Alva. The meeting will begin at 10 a.m. and conclude by 4 p.m. She said, “HPRCD is well known for using Ranch Conversations as a way to bring agricultural producers, rural people, and agencies that deliver programs together to provide information, answer questions and exchange ideas.”
The focus of the Woods County Ranch Conversation will be to provide information to producers and community leaders about state, federal and private foundation programs and possible funding opportunities and other assistance that might be available to them.
“Bratten said that the pandemic has altered the way we were accustomed to doing business. HPRCD believes that there has been a lack of and now a need for outreach meetings where agency leaders can meet face-to-face with farmers, ranchers, and community leaders and provide firsthand information about current programs.” There is no charge to attend the Conversation and lunch will be provided.
The Ranch Conversation will feature speakers from USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA-Farm Service Agency, USDA-Agricultural Research Service, USDA-Risk Management Agency, Oklahoma Conservation Commission, US Fish & Wildlife Service, and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, and the Barn Foundation. USDA-Rural Development will present information about programs that are available to help communities grow and improve their local community. Kenny Knowles, well-known Ellis County rancher, will speak from the landowner perspective. Knowles said, “This is a rare opportunity to meet leaders from all agencies who provide services and programs to rural Oklahoma.”
High Plains RC&D is a non-profit corporation that serves a federally authorized Resource Conservation & Development region that includes Beaver, Cimarron, Dewey, Ellis, Harper, Texas, Woods, and Woodward counties. Ranch conversations will be held throughout the High Plains region in the coming months.
Agricultural producers and community leaders from neighboring states are encouraged to attend. For those planning to attend the lunch, please RSVP by phone at 580-748-2504 or e-mail to tom.lucas717@gmail.com.
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