2011 OACD Annual Meeting

Oklahoma RC&DOklahoma RC&DThe TEAMTEAM to ‘Pull Together’

CONSERVATIONCONSERVATION and

COMMUNITYCOMMUNITY in Oklahoma

Purpose of RC&DPurpose of RC&Dto to encourageencourage and and improveimprove

the the capabilitycapability of of

volunteer, locally-elected volunteer, locally-elected

and civic leaders;and civic leaders;

to to planplan and and addressaddress needs for needs for

RESOURCE CONSERVATIONRESOURCE CONSERVATION &&

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTCOMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

OACD MissionOACD Missionto‘DRIVE’ leadership,to‘DRIVE’ leadership,

resources, and resources, and

partnership partnership

opportunities for thoseopportunities for those

who manage the land who manage the land

to enhance our natural to enhance our natural

resources for a better resources for a better

OklahomaOklahoma

OARC&D MissionOARC&D Mission to ‘HARNESS’ the to ‘HARNESS’ the

power of local Councils power of local Councils

to identify, address and to identify, address and

solve challenges to solve challenges to

sustain and improve sustain and improve

quality of life in their quality of life in their

own communities.  own communities.  

RC&D and CD RC&D and CD Historical Historical PartnershipPartnership

• Since the beginning of the Since the beginning of the individual RC&D Councils, local individual RC&D Councils, local

Conservation Districts were Conservation Districts were

FOUNDATIONAL FOUNDATIONAL

MEMBERSMEMBERS

Common ‘Horse-Power”Common ‘Horse-Power”

•Mission FocusedMission Focused

•Place at the TablePlace at the Table

•Results Oriented Results Oriented

•AccountableAccountable

So….What can we do So….What can we do better as a TEAM?better as a TEAM?

‘‘HITCH’ up as a TEAMHITCH’ up as a TEAM

•Both organizations are KEYKEY in transforming communities

• BothBoth organizations organizations must must ensureensure the TEAMTEAM is TRAINEDTRAINED in new leadership capacities

‘‘HARNESS’ the PowerHARNESS’ the Power

• Both organizations are responsible for HITCHINGHITCHING teams together

• Both organizations are responsible for HELPING HELPING TEAMSTEAMS work together

‘‘PULLING’ StrategiesPULLING’ Strategies

ConditioningConditioningCommitment and Ownership

ResourcesResourcesBoard Members StaffEquipmentFinancial

‘‘LOADS’ to ‘PULL’ togetherLOADS’ to ‘PULL’ together

•Value-Added AgricultureValue-Added Agriculture•Alternative EnterprisesAlternative Enterprises•AgritourismAgritourism•Alternative EnergyAlternative Energy

RC&D 2010 Summary of RC&D 2010 Summary of AccomplishmentsAccomplishments2727 New Businesses

Developed

305305 Businesses Retained and/or Expanded

$3.1 $3.1 Billion for Oklahoma businesses

6565 Value-Added Products assisted to market

RC&D 2010 Summary of RC&D 2010 Summary of AccomplishmentsAccomplishments

125125 Agritourism Venues Opened /

Expanded

188188 ‘On Farm’ Jobs Created or Retained

207207 ‘Off Farm’ Jobs Created or Retained

RC&D 2010 Summary of RC&D 2010 Summary of AccomplishmentsAccomplishments

>17K>17K Acres Conserved for Recreation

8888 Tourism/Historical/Cultural or Museum Sites

Enhanced

1818 Rural Fire & Disaster Preparedness Projects

RC&D 2010 Summary of RC&D 2010 Summary of AccomplishmentsAccomplishments

42 42 Community Healthcare Improvements

1515 Wastewater Systems Improved or

Repaired

2626 Tribal Nations Working as a Project Partner

RC&D 2010 Summary of RC&D 2010 Summary of AccomplishmentsAccomplishments

>$9.4 Billion >$9.4 Billion Dollars Leveraged

for Project Completion

RC&D 2010 Summary of RC&D 2010 Summary of AccomplishmentsAccomplishments

Utilizing a federal investment of $1.12 M $1.12 M through

USDA/NRCS, Oklahoma’s RC&Ds returned a 8:18:1

investment due to local, regional, statewide, tribal,

federal and private partners!

Oklahoma RC&D CouncilsOklahoma RC&D Councils

Highlights

from all nine of

theindividual

RC&D Councils including:

Cherokee Cherokee HillsHills

Cross Cross TimbersTimbers

Fun Fun CountryCountry

Great Great PlainsPlains

High High

PlainsPlains

Oklahoma Oklahoma Chisholm Chisholm

TrailTrail

Ouachita Ouachita MountainsMountains TallgrassTallgrass WheatlanWheatlan

dd

CherokeCherokee Hills e Hills RC&DRC&D2010 RC&D State Summit2010 RC&D State Summit

– Oklahoma Center for Non-Oklahoma Center for Non-Profits presentations on Profits presentations on non-profit corporations non-profit corporations and Board member rules and Board member rules and regulationsand regulations

– Nat’l Association of RC&D Nat’l Association of RC&D Councils Executive Councils Executive Director, Council products Director, Council products and services and services

CherokeCherokee Hills e Hills RC&DRC&DWagoner Women in Wagoner Women in

Agriculture ConferenceAgriculture Conference– addressed some of

the challenges and issues that women face when they become part of the farm culture

– Topics included farm bill programs, carbon credits, leadership and nutrition.

CherokeCherokee Hills e Hills RC&DRC&DSmall Business IncubatorSmall Business Incubator

– This project provides This project provides small and home based small and home based business a low rent office business a low rent office space while the business space while the business developsdevelops

– Earlier last year a Earlier last year a business startup moved business startup moved into permanent facilities into permanent facilities after occupying for a after occupying for a yearyear

CherokeCherokee Hills e Hills RC&DRC&DIntermediary Relending Intermediary Relending

ProgramProgram– Small Business loans to Small Business loans to

date $1, 021,000date $1, 021,000

– continues after twelve years to offer the loan service to small business in Adair, Cherokee, Delaware, Nowata and Sequoyah Counties.

Cross Cross Timbers Timbers RC&DRC&DSmall Business Small Business

Development Development ProgramProgram

– Support of USDA Support of USDA Rural Development & Rural Development & Federal Home Loan Federal Home Loan Bank of TopekaBank of Topeka

– $149,000 investment $149,000 investment into viable businesses into viable businesses in the region in the region

Cross Cross Timbers Timbers RC&DRC&D

Annual Partnership Annual Partnership Celebration / LuauCelebration / Luau

– Created to raise Created to raise funds and awareness funds and awareness of programs, of programs, partners and partners and recognize recognize contributions by contributions by individuals & individuals & organizationsorganizations

Cross Cross Timbers Timbers RC&DRC&DLt. Governor’s Lt. Governor’s

Invitational Turkey Invitational Turkey HuntHunt

– Hosted as an economic Hosted as an economic development event development event

– Partnered with the Partnered with the communities of communities of Henryetta, Holdenville, Henryetta, Holdenville, Okemah and OkmulgeeOkemah and Okmulgee

Fun Fun Country Country RC&DRC&D

Arbuckle Simpson AquiferArbuckle Simpson Aquifer– OCWP “sensitive sole

source groundwater basin” identified for Hydrology Study to determine how much water can be withdrawn while protecting springs and streams.

Fun Fun Country Country RC&DRC&D

Heartland Flyer CoalitionHeartland Flyer Coalition– partnership with local

leaders, ODOT & Amtrak to improve passenger rail

– on-going study with alternative fuels, Biodiesel engine

– building local/regional travel itineraries

Fun Fun Country Country RC&DRC&DCedar Pollen ResearchCedar Pollen Research

– Partnership w/ Tulsa Partnership w/ Tulsa Univ., City of Davis and Univ., City of Davis and YMCA Camp ClassenYMCA Camp Classen

– Collector sites for cedar Collector sites for cedar pollen pollen

– Continuing research on Continuing research on pollen concentrations pollen concentrations and spatial distributionsand spatial distributions

Fun Fun Country Country RC&DRC&D

Economic Development Economic Development PartnershipsPartnerships– Main Street &Main Street &

Chambers of CommerceChambers of Commerce

– Tourism OrganizationsTourism Organizations

– Individual businessesIndividual businesses

Community Development Community Development and Beautificationand Beautification– Keep Oklahoma BeautifulKeep Oklahoma Beautiful

– Ardmore Beautification Ardmore Beautification CouncilCouncil

Great Great Plains Plains RC&DRC&D

Farmers Markets and Farmers Markets and Community GardensCommunity Gardens– Get Your Picks on Route Get Your Picks on Route

66 farmers market 66 farmers market promotionpromotion

– Workshops on Workshops on plasticulture, season plasticulture, season extension, organics and extension, organics and marketingmarketing

Great Great Plains Plains RC&DRC&D

Know Your Farmer, Know Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Your Food – Conference w/ exhibits Conference w/ exhibits

and educational sessionsand educational sessions

– Targeted producers, Targeted producers, agency personnel and agency personnel and school nutrition directorsschool nutrition directors

Great Great Plains Plains RC&DRC&D

Whole Wheat Flour Mill – Whole Wheat Flour Mill – Flour PowerFlour Power– No-Till Conservation No-Till Conservation

Cropping systemCropping system

– 100% whole wheat flour 100% whole wheat flour available to schoolsavailable to schools

High Plains RC&DOklahoma Wildlife & Oklahoma Wildlife &

Prairie Heritage Prairie Heritage AllianceAlliance– Increase private

landowners awareness– Technical assistance,

education and rangeland program guidance

High Plains RC&D

Ion Exchange ProjectIon Exchange Project– Business assistance on

iodine extraction technology

– Uses brine water from Oil & Gas wells

– Ultimately employ 160 people

High Plains RC&D

Agritourism MapAgritourism Map– Statewide effort for

industry development– Marketing materials

including Map development and printing

Oklahoma Oklahoma Chisholm Chisholm

Trail Trail RC&DRC&D

Keeping Jefferson Keeping Jefferson County BeautifulCounty Beautiful– Facilitated two grants

– Ringling Boy Scouts cleanup

– Waurika Chamber Planter boxes

Oklahoma Oklahoma Chisholm Chisholm

Trail Trail RC&DRC&D

Southern Oklahoma Southern Oklahoma Retail Development Retail Development ConferenceConference– Recruiting and retaining

the right business

– Partnership with Okla Southwest Alliance

Oklahoma Oklahoma Chisholm Chisholm

Trail Trail RC&DRC&DSouthwest OK Southwest OK

NonProfit Capacity NonProfit Capacity BuildingBuilding– Assisted 10 nonprofit

local organizations

– Provided partial scholarships to attend professional training in nonprofit management.

Ouachita Ouachita Mountains Mountains

RC&DRC&D

Poteau Biomass ProjectPoteau Biomass Project– Regional biomass project

– Utilizing locally grown biomass

– Strategic planning with federal, state and local landowners.

Ouachita Ouachita Mountains Mountains

RC&DRC&DWomen in Agriculture and Women in Agriculture and

Small Business Small Business ConferenceConference– Held in McAlester, OK

– Topics included agritourism, organics, grape & wine production and Farm to School program

Ouachita Ouachita Mountains Mountains

RC&DRC&D

Plasticulture BusinessPlasticulture Business– Educational information

for local market gardeners

– New products and their application exhibition

TallgrasTallgrass RC&Ds RC&D

Conservation Education Conservation Education ‘Billy Bee’ Concert‘Billy Bee’ Concert

– Conservation education day for 4th – 12th graders

– 10 different education stations

TallgrasTallgrass RC&Ds RC&D

Circle of Care ProjectCircle of Care Project

– Non-traditional skilled nursing facility

– Rehabilitative services

– Social settings

TallgrasTallgrass RC&Ds RC&D

Watershed Protection Watershed Protection and Maintenanceand Maintenance

– Partnered with Indian Nations Council of Governments

– Purchase slope mower for six CD watershed maintenance

WheatlaWheatland RC&Dnd RC&D

Fence Solutions Inc.Fence Solutions Inc.– Revolving Loan Fund

provided operating capital

– Doubled production with innovative products creating six new jobs

WheatlaWheatland RC&Dnd RC&D

Kay County Conservation Kay County Conservation District Outdoor ClassroomDistrict Outdoor Classroom– Funding assistance to Kay

County Conservation District– Eco Observation station

includes gazebo, arbor, windmill/pond, butterfly/Oklahoma garden and walking trail.

WheatlaWheatland RC&Dnd RC&D

Frontier Country Historical Frontier Country Historical MuseumMuseum– Assisted City of Crescent

and Frontier Country Historical Society

– CDBG Community Revitalization & USDA Community Facilities grant

– Museum improvements

Examples of tExamples of the Power & Power & ScopeScope between CONSERVATIONCONSERVATION & COMMUNITY TeamMMUNITY Team

•Eastern Eastern RedcedarRedcedar

•Flour PowerFlour Power

Eastern Eastern Redcedar Redcedar Issue / ConcernIssue / Concern

Eastern Redcedar Eastern Redcedar Inventory and MappingInventory and Mapping

Eastern Redcedar Eastern Redcedar HarvestingHarvesting

Eastern Redcedar Eastern Redcedar Value-Added Product Value-Added Product DevelopmentDevelopment

Eastern Redcedar Alternative Energy

Biomass Biomass GasificatiGasificati

onon

Whole Wheat Flour PowerWhole Wheat Flour Power

Southern Plains Southern Plains

AgriculturalAgricultural

ResourcesResources

CoalitionCoalition

Whole Wheat Whole Wheat Flour PowerFlour Power

Whole Wheat Flour PowerWhole Wheat Flour PowerEducationEducation

No-Till No-Till Conferences Conferences

& Workshops& Workshops

Whole Wheat Flour Whole Wheat Flour PowerPowerSustainabilitySustainability

Food AllianceFood Alliance

CertificationCertification

Whole Wheat Flour Whole Wheat Flour PowerPowerValue-AddedValue-Added

Heritage Stone Heritage Stone Burr MillBurr Mill

RC&D Councils, part of the RC&D Councils, part of the TEAM between TEAM between CONSERVATION CONSERVATION & COMMUNITY& COMMUNITY

Questions?Questions?