Conservation History Blog
Death of OCHS Board Member Patti Christian
The board of the Oklahoma Conservation Historical Society is saddened to report the death of board member Patti Christian on June 25th. Patti had served on the OCHS board since February 2020 and helped represent the interests of Oklahoma’s conservation district employees. She had worked for the McClain County Conservation District in Purcell since 1992 and was the District Manager at the time of her death. Patti has also been active throughout her career in the Oklahoma Association of Conservation District Employees. Patti’s leadership in Oklahoma’s conservation community will be missed.
OCHS Traveling Photographic Exhibit Showcased at the Plains Indians and Pioneers Museum in Woodward
The Oklahoma Conservation Historical Society (OCHS) is proud to announce that our traveling exhibit, "A Photographic History of Soil and Water Conservation in Oklahoma," is being showcased at the Plains Indians & Pioneers Museum in Woodward throughout the month of June.
Oklahoma Conservation Historical Society Celebrates 75th Anniversary of Cloud Creek No. 1 with Congressman Frank Lucas
The Oklahoma Conservation Historical Society and the Washita County Conservation District welcomed conservation dignitaries to Cordell, Oklahoma on April 23, 2023, to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Cloud Creek No. 1, the first upstream flood control dam completed as part of a national program of watershed flood control and soil conservation under the authority of the 1944 Flood Control Act.
OCHS Annual Meeting to be held February 25th, 2024
The Oklahoma Conservation Historical Society is pleased to invited our members and supporters to join us Sunday February 25th for our annual meeting to be held 1PM in the Scissortail Room of the Embassy Suites at 3233 NW Expressway, Oklahoma City, OK.
OCHS Unveils Oklahoma Conservation History Photography Exhibit
The Oklahoma Conservation Historical Society (OCHS) is proud to unveil a photographic exhibit of the history of soil and water conservation in Oklahoma told through images from the OCHS Photography Collection.
The collection contains approximately 12,000 unique images from all 77 counties that document the work of Oklahoma's conservation professionals protecting the state's soil and water resources over six decades.
The exhibit features ten panels pairing selected photographs with explanatory text placing each image in its historical context. It covers the period from the 1920s to the 1970s — spanning the origins of soil conservation in Oklahoma, the establishment of the conservation partnership in the 1930s, the growth of the small watershed program in the 1940s, the widespread adoption of conservation practices on the Great Plains in the 1950s, the benefits of conservation seen in the 1960s, and the changing role of conservation in the community during the 1970s.
George Stunkard: Conservation Leader
The Oklahoma Conservation Historical Society is proud to recognize the years of dedicated service George Stunkard has given to the State of Oklahoma championing conservation. George was a founding member of the Oklahoma Conservation Historical Society and one of the first conservationists to provide his oral history for the Society's Oral History Project.
FIRST IN THE NATION WATERSHED DAM: CLOUD CREEK SITE No. 1 CELEBRATES 75 YEARS
FIRST IN THE NATION WATERSHED DAM: CLOUD CREEK SITE No. 1 CELEBRATES 75 YEARS — July 2023 marks the 75th anniversary of the dedication of Cloud Creek Detention Reservoir No. 1 on July 8, 1948. That day people from across Oklahoma and the United States came to the Troy Orr farm, a few miles southeast of Cordell in Washita County, to take part in celebrating completion of the nation’s first upstream watershed dam — first in the country to be built as part of a national program authorized by the 1944 Flood Control Act (P.L.534)
CONSERVATIONIST SCOTTY HERRIMAN HONORED BY THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION
The Oklahoma Conservation Commission honored long-time Area 3 Commissioner Scotty Herriman. Scotty was recognized for his many years of service both to the Commission and to the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts (OACD). He had previously served as a board member and President of OACD.
JEANNE HAMILTON TO BECOME FIRST FEMALE OKLAHOMA STATE CONSERVATIONIST
The Oklahoma Conservation Historical Society wishes to welcome our new state conservationist — Jeanne Hamilton. NRCS Chief Terry Cosby recently announced that he has selected Ms. Hamilton to serve as State Conservationist for Oklahoma. She will begin work in Stillwater on July 2nd. Her selection is historically significant, as she is the first woman to hold the job of state conservationist in Oklahoma.
FIFTY CONSERVATION ORAL HISTORIES NOW COMPLETED!
After nearly five years of work, Oklahoma State University’s Oklahoma Oral History Research Program (OOHRP) has completed 50 conservation oral histories. The oral histories are housed in Oklahoma’s Conservation Heritage Oral History Collection on the Oklahoma State University (OSU) Library’s website.
OCHS Projects to be Showcased at Oklahoma History Symposium
Two OCHS projects will featured at annual Oklahoma History Symposium hosted by the Oklahoma Historical Society on April 22nd, 2023 at the History Center in Oklahoma City.
OCHS Awarded Grant Funds for Photo History Project
OCHS is happy to announce that we have received a grant from the Oklahoma Historical Society to create a traveling photo exhibit to showcase images like this one that are part of our conservation history photo collection hosted on the Gateway to Oklahoma website. The exhibit will be of museum quality and will be made available to regional and local museums and for conservation district events.
CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF THE BLUE THUMB WATER QUALITY EDUCATION PROGRAM
The Oklahoma Conservation Historical Society congratulates the Blue Thumb Water Quality Education Program on its 30 Year Anniversary! Blue Thumb, a program of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission and local conservation districts, has a mission of “Stream Protection Through Education.” It supports citizen scientist volunteers who monitor streams, submit data, and help educate others about protecting Oklahoma’s streams and rivers.
Conservation Historical Society Projects to be Featured at Oklahoma History Symposium
OCHS Board Member, Larry Caldwell, will be participating in a session titled “Collaborating to Preserve Oklahoma’s Conservation History” at the annual meeting of the Oklahoma Historical Society on April 22, 2023.
Annual Meeting of the Oklahoma Conservation Historical Society
The Oklahoma Conservation Historical Society hosted its annual meeting at the state meeting of the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts held February 26 in Oklahoma City.
The Oklahoma Conservation Historical Society Welcomes New Board Member
OCHS welcomes new board member Harry Fritzler
Patti Christian Named Conservation District Employee of the Year
OCHS Board Member Patti Christian named Conservation District Employee of the Year
OSU Oral History Presentation at OACD Conference
Sarah Milligan, Head of OSU's Oral History Research Program, was a presenter at the OACD State Meeting on February 27th. Sarah's presentation was titled "Recording Your Family's Oral History." Ms. Milligan and her staff at OSU are responsible for establishing the Oklahoma Conservation Heritage Oral History Collection
Rick Godrey: Conservation Leader
OCHS member, Rick Godrey, was honored by the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts (OACD) at their awards banquet on Monday, February 27th. Mr. Godfrey was awarded the Elmer Maddux Advocacy Award by OACD for his many years of championing conservation at the state capitol. He has been on the board of the Oklahoma County Conservation District since 1994 and was a member of OACD's first Conservation Leadership Program. Rick is a Founding Member of the Oklahoma Conservation Historical Society and has been a significant financial contributor to the Society, including being a Gold Member. The Oklahoma Conservation Historical Society congratulates Rick Godfrey for promoting conservation in Oklahoma and for his commitment to preserving Oklahoma's conservation history.