On Monday, April 14, Senate Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton led a resolution commemorating the 90th anniversary of Black Sunday and reminded Oklahomans of the continuing need to protect and conserve our soil, water, and other natural resources. The bipartisan resolution was passed unanimously in the Oklahoma Senate with an aye vote.

“This is a resolution that not only signifies what happened that day (Black Sunday) but also what’s happened since then in making our state a much better place to live,” Senator Paxton said.

Leonard Hill joined other farmers and ranchers at the state capital in Oklahoma City to visit with leaders about the importance of agricultural within the state. Hill represented local farmers in the Checotah/Rentiesville area and visited with Mark Mann and Avery Frix, who both serve in the Oklahoma State Senate.

“We talked about so many things: family, agriculture, finances and even education,” Hill said. “It’s so important for us to invest in our future by investing in agriculture. If we don’t teach our children how to respect the land and continue to grow things, and if we don’t learn how to sustain the very life of agriculture, then we will fail the next generation of the bountiful blessing of the toil of their own hands on their own land.”

This year marks the 90th year of Conservation in Oklahoma and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is celebrating its 90th anniversary on April 27, 2025.

The NRCS has been working for decades to help farmers, ranchers, and landowners make critical investments in their operations and local communities to keep farmlands working. This also helps boost agricultural production, which helps improve the quality of air, water, soil and wildlife habitats at the same time. In Oklahoma, the NRCS has played a key role in conservation efforts, particularly in the face of challenges like the Dust Bowl.

The Dust Bowl, a man-made natural disaster, happened in the 1920s when farmers plowed up native grasslands and planted their crops on the usually arid Great Plains. This caused huge dust storms to blow across the Great Plains which resulted in a series of severe dust storms that destroyed farms, livestock, and even killed people. The Dust Bowl single handedly contributed to the economic ruin and displacement of thousands of people who were forced to abandon their homes and farms across the state.

Today, NRCS is focusing on better conservation ideas to help improve soil health and water quality to help local farmers like Hill to improve soil health and make sure the next generation reaps the benefits.