Conservation Stories
Conservation Stories chronicles the ongoing work of the Sandhills Area Research Association along with old and new friends in the agriculture space.
Episodes
In this episode of Conservation Stories, Tillery sits down with Dr. Jason Headrick, a Kentucky-born farm kid turned leadership professor in Texas Tech’s Department of Agricultural Education & Communications. From growing up on a tobacco and timber farm to researching civic leadership in rural communities, Jason shares how his roots shaped his passion for people, place, and the “socia...
In this episode of Conservation Stories, Tillery Timmins-Sims sits down with Chase Head, Chief Development Officer of the South Plains Food Bank, to unpack what hunger really looks like across their 19-county service area. Chase shares his journey from cotton R&D and agribusiness into professional fundraising, and explains how the food bank leverages the national Feeding America netw...
In this episode of Conservation Stories, Tillery Timmins-Sims visits with Dr. Peter Dotray, a weed scientist with a rare three-way appointment split between Texas Tech University, AgriLife Extension, and AgriLife Research, alongside regular guest Dr. Todd Bauman. Peter shares how his role bridges research, classroom teaching, and on-the-ground extension, helping ensure that new science a...
In this episode of Conservation Stories, Tillery welcomes back a returning guest in a brand-new role — Liz Hirschfield, now Executive Director of Cotton Council International. Liz shares her journey from J.Crew/Madewell to consulting, and now to leading CCI’s global mission of expanding demand for U.S. cotton across more than 15 countries.
Liz explains how CCI works under the National Co...
In this episode of Conservation Stories, Tillery Timmons-Sims sits down with Laura Seal, Assistant Director of the AmeriCorps program housed at West Texas A&M University in Canyon. Laura explains how AmeriCorps operates as a federally funded service program that places members with nonprofits across the Texas Panhandle to strengthen community resilience in areas like health, wellness...
More about our guests:
DeLinda Hicklen, Relationship Agent at Capital Farm Credit
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 t...
In this episode of Conservation Stories, host Tillery Timmons Sims sits down with crop insurance expert and lifelong cotton industry advocate Delinda Hicklin to unpack one of agriculture’s most misunderstood topics — crop insurance. Together, they explore how the program evolved from the 1980s farm crisis into today’s vital safety net for U.S. farmers, protecting not just individual live...
In this episode of Conservation Stories, host Tillery Timmons-Sims sits down with Navy veteran Billy Knox and barbecue pitmaster Ian Timmons to share the story behind Beefy, a Lubbock-based startup transforming brisket into an innovative, healthy snack. Born out of Ian’s legacy at Tom & Bingo’s Barbecue and fueled by Billy’s logistical expertise, Beefy is creating high-protein, prese...
In this episode of Conservation Stories, host Tillery Timmons-Sims sits down with Todd Baughman, director of the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Lubbock, to explore how cutting-edge research connects directly to the challenges and opportunities facing High Plains producers.
Todd reflects on this year’s unusual weather patterns—cooler nights and timely rains—and w...
In this episode of Conservation Stories, host Tillery Timmons-Sims talks with Canadian rancher and conservation leader Brian Gilvesey about the ALUS (Alternative Land Use Services) program, a farmer-driven initiative that pays landowners for producing ecosystem services like clean water, biodiversity, soil health, and carbon storage.
Brian shares his personal journey from raising Texas L...
In this episode of Conservation Stories, host Tillery Timmons-Sims sits down with Billy Tiller, a fifth-generation cotton farmer, entrepreneur, and data solutions innovator from West Texas. Billy shares his journey from farming and ag banking to launching technology ventures focused on ag data cooperatives and water management solutions. He explains how his work in Nebraska’s Twin Platte...
In this episode of Conservation Stories, host Tillery Timmons-Sims welcomes Tony Vorster and Nick Young, researchers at Colorado State University’s Natural Resource Ecology Lab, to explore how NASA’s remote sensing technology can directly support farmers and ranchers. With years of experience in applied research and the NASA Develop Program, Tony and Nick explain remote sensing in everyd...
In this episode of Conservation Stories, host Tillery Timmons-Sims sits down with agricultural law expert Jim Bradbury to unpack the complexities of conservation easements—what they are, how they work, and why they’re gaining popularity across Texas. Together, they explore how easements provide landowners with tools to preserve property for future generations, manage estate planning, an...
In this episode of Conservation Stories, host Tillery Timmons-Sims speaks with Joe Martinez, founder of a nonprofit dedicated to helping U.S. farms legally recruit agricultural workers through the H-2A, H-2B, and TN visa programs. With decades of agricultural labor challenges as the backdrop, Joe explains how his organization connects farmers with trained, reliable laborers from Mexico, ...
In this episode of Conservation Stories, host Tillery Timmons-Sims talks with Dr. John Beusterien, professor at Texas Tech and founder of the Lubbock Waters project. With a background in literature and history, John shares how his curiosity about the land, culture, and ecology of West Texas led him to water—our most vital and fragile resource.
They explore the hidden history of the South...
In this episode of Conservation Stories, host Tillery Timmins Sims sits down with Leah Doozy from Compliance Services International (CSI) to dive into the world of pesticide regulation and its complex relationship with environmental and agricultural practices. Leah shares her extensive background in agricultural economics and conservation, shedding light on the intricate process of getti...
In this episode of Conservation Stories, host Tillery Timmons-Sims sits down with agricultural legend Jane Dever to explore her remarkable journey from a small West Texas cotton farm to leading agricultural research in South Carolina. Jane shares her family’s deep immigrant roots, the legacy of her grandfather’s 160-acre farm, and the powerful story of how her parents opened their home t...
In this thought-provoking episode of Conservation Stories, host Tillery Timmons-Sims welcomes hydrologist and University of Texas researcher Dr. Bridget Scanlon, whose global perspective and deep technical insight offer a compelling look at water’s future in West Texas and beyond. Originally from southwest Ireland and now based in Austin, Dr. Scanlon shares her journey from farming roots...
Upcoming Produced Water Society Event: 10th Annual Permian Basin Conference & Exhibition
Dates: August 11–13, 2025
Location: Bush Convention Center, Midland, Texas
Details: Industry leaders gather to discuss produced water management.
Register: Register Here
More About Our Guest
Michael Grossman
Moderator for Panel 5A (...
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