A distinguished expert in regenerative farming and ranching in the Muleshoe and Slaton areas and a farmer from Ropesville dedicated to regenerative agriculture are headline speakers at a Playa Field Day May 16 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Floyd County Friends Unity Center at 990 FM 786 just outside of Lockney. Doors will open at 9 a.m. with registration and refreshments.
Ogallala Commons is hosting the event that will feature an overview of steps toward regenerative cotton production to increase water stewardship and playa conservation across the South Plains. Registration for the Playa Day is $25 per person. Registration can be done by email to Darryl Birkenfeld, Ogallala Commons Deputy Director, at darryl@ogallalacommons. org or by phone at 806945-2255.
Lacy Cotter-Vardeman of Cotter Key Farms at Slaton, a fifth-generation rancher and farmer with a passion for conservation, will address “A Grower’s Perspective: Cotton Incorporated, Sandhills Area Research Association, and Preserving Playas.”
Ms. Cotter-Vardeman hails from a long line of New Mexico ranchers and married into a multi-generation cotton farming family. She has a deep understanding of the intricacies and challenges that agriculture brings. Lacy founded the Sandhills Area Research Association (SARA), utilized as a means to acquire grants from prominent organizations like the World Wildlife Fund and the Audubon Society. She has helped develop environmentally responsible practices that promote soil health. She is a passionate advocate for conservation, believing that it is the key to creating a sustainable food system that benefits both the environment and human health.
Chad Wall, founder of Natural Ecosystem Restoration, Ropesville, will present, Taking Steps to Regenerate Cotton Ecosystems. Wall is committed to study and expand the science of Regenerative Agriculture. He seeks to empower other farmers, ranchers, and stewards to ecologically restoretheirlandsandmake water their biggest ally in creating a healthy ecosystem that supports healthy plants,animals,andpeople.
An overview of playa ecosystems and the Texas Playa Conservation Initiative will be given by Heather Johnson of Littlefield, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Migratory Game Bird Specialist for Region 1.
At 11:30 a.m., the group will enjoy a catered sandwich lunch before departing for a field trip to visit a restored playa located about 15 miles from the Floyd County Friends Unity Center. The program will wrap-up at 2 p.m.
Playas are shallow, rainfed wetlands throughout the Great Plains. When they collect surface water after thunderstorms, playas provide crucial habitat for many wildlife species including shorebirds, waterfowl, and an array of invertebrates and amphibians that depend on water to survive.
When dry, playas also support several other Great Plains wildlife species because they are often the only natural lands in a region dominated by agricultural production.
Playas also recharge water to the underlying Ogallala aquifer, filter nutrients and chemicals from the surrounding watershed, and add recreational value to the region.
