Conservation Stories

Tillery 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.

Leah 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

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Conservation Stories is presented by The Sandhills Area Research Association (SARA). Subscribe now to hear all the interviews.

In 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.

In 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.

In 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.