The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum announces a symposium focusing on rural issues to be held in March. The program titled Surviving the Elements: Land & Water Issues of the West aims to increase awareness of drought and rural issues in the American West, by focusing on stewardship and conservation of land and water.
Ranching and the iconic cowboy are both important aspects of the West and of the National Cowboy Museum’s permanent collections, exhibitions and educational programming. The two intertwined play an important role in building a better connection to the past, present and future of western resources. Surviving the Elements: Land & Water Issues of the West is a series of lectures and panel discussions on such topics as land and pasture management, water usage, conservation measures, livestock/herd management, new resource preservation and enhancement strategies. This educational series augments the story of modern day ranching told in the Museum’s permanent collection.
The Museum aims to make an impact and be a change agent for rural issues by creating a conversation between farmers, ranchers and their industry partners to help create solutions. At the center of this conversation will be the symposium held each Friday in March 2014 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. and features world-renowned experts on several topics. For more detailed explanations of the workshops or to register online, you can visit their website here.
Reservations are required and the registration fee is $10 and includes lunch. You can also register by calling 405-478-2250, Ext. 280.
Past Influences (March 7, 2014)
· Should Ranchers Study History? by Jay O’Brien, Rancher
· The Culture of Water Law in the American West by Donald J. Pisani, Merrick Chair of Western American History, Emeritus, University of Oklahoma
· Dust Bowl and Beyond – A Lesson for the Future from Past Hard Times by Timothy Egan, Author
Current Trends (March 14, 2014)
· The Challenge of Changing Climate: From the Cowboy to Today by Evelyn Browning-Garriss, Climatologist
· A Look at the Economics of Drought—Challenges for the Agriculture Industry and Affected Communities by M. Ray Perryman, Ph.D. Economist
· Drought and Rangeland Stewardship by Patrick E. Reece, Ph.D. Range Scientist, Prairie & Montane Enterprises
Future Demands & Solutions — Part 1 (March 21, 2014)
· The Oklahoma Mesonet: A State-of-the-Art Network for Weather and Soil Monitoring, Ronald Elliott, Ph.D, Registered Professional Engineer, Environment and Natural Resources, Emeritus, Oklahoma State University
· America’s Water Crisis and What To Do About It by Robert Glennon, Author and Water Resource Expert
· What is the Future of Rangelands? Natural Resources and What Can Be Done to Restore Them by Allan Savory, President & Co-Founder, Savory Institute
Future Demands & Solutions — Part 2 (March 28, 2014)
· How can you love the land and still use it? Chet Vogt, Rancher, Silversmith
· Innovative Solutions for a Dry Future by J.D. Strong, Oklahoma Water Resources Board, Executive Director
· The Farm Grandpa Gave Me by Seth Pratt, Emerging Leader and Former Western Region Vice President of the National FFA Organization
The program is made possible by a grant provided by the Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO), through a partnership with Great Plains Coca-Cola Bottling Company in Oklahoma City and the Coca-Cola Foundation, has granted $100,000 to the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in honor of the Browne Family.
Also, for more information, you can download the promotional poster here.
