As part of their continuing commitment to help farmers, ranchers and other landowners protect and conserve the natural resources, the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts, and the Oklahoma Farm Bureau announced they will partner in celebrating Stewardship Week in Oklahoma, Sunday through May 6.  

“Stewardship Week is a time when we recognize the hard work agriculture producers and other landowners do to conserve our soil, water, air, wildlife habitats and other natural resources,” Joe Parker, president of OACD said. “It’s important that we let folks know what we do to protect the environment as part of our farming and ranching operations. It’s also important that we educate our fellow ag producers and other citizens on the importance of the stewardship ethic and the need to care for our environment. We are glad to have the Oklahoma Farm Bureau working with us to do this.”

Stewardship Week is one of the world's largest conservation-related observances. Since 1955, the National Association of Conservation Districts and OACD have sponsored the national Stewardship Week program. During this week, local conservation districts will work with media outlets, communities, faith-based groups and local schools to promote the concept of stewardship. This concept involves personal and social responsibility, including a duty to learn about and improve natural resources as we use them wisely, leaving a rich legacy for future generations.

"We’re fortunate to live in a state that recognizes the need for conservation,” said Mike Spradling, a northeast Oklahoma agriculture producer and president of Oklahoma Farm Bureau. “From the Dust Bowl to today, we’ve worked with highly skilled conservation officials to protect our resources."

Farm Bureau is a voluntary organization of farm and ranch families united for the purpose of analyzing their problems and formulating action to achieve educational improvement, economic opportunity and social advancement and, thereby to promote the national well-being. Organized in all 77 counties, the Oklahoma Farm Bureau has more than 121,000 member families statewide. It is affiliated with the American Farm Bureau Federation which has a membership of more than 6 million families nationwide.

“This is a great partnership, Farm Bureau and OACD,” Clay Pope, executive director of OACD said. “By working together we can help ensure that all Oklahomans, both rural and urban, know the importance of protecting and conserving our natural resources.  Farmers and ranchers were the first environmentalists and are the primary stewards of our natural resources, but we must stay vigilant and address the problems of today while avoiding the mistakes of the past. Agriculture producers work hard to conserve our soil, water, air, and wildlife habitats, but we still have more to do.  We appreciate the help of the Farm Bureau in helping tell the story of Agriculture and helping us promote stewardship statewide.”