On April 27, 1935, Congress passed Public Law 74-46, landmark legislation that established a permanent national policy of soil and water conservation and created the Soil Conservation Service—now known as the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)—providing the foundation for the federal-state-local conservation partnership that has endured for nine decades.

Conservation artifacts on display at the 90th anniversary celebration of the Soil Conservation Service held in El Reno, Oklahoma on April 28, 2025.

A Gathering of Conservation Leaders

On April 28, 2025, the Oklahoma Conservation Historical Society (OCHS) hosted a celebration honoring the 90th anniversary of P.L. 74-46 at the Canadian County Expo Center in El Reno. The event brought together over 160 people representing SCS/NRCS, Oklahoma Conservation Commission, conservation districts, and others passionate about Oklahoma's conservation history.

The celebration featured displays conservation artifacts, including vintage signs, historical photographs, surveying equipment, soil surveys, aerial photography, and other items from the early days of the Soil Conservation Service and conservation districts. The Agricultural Research Service contributed a display of early research artifacts and hydraulic models, while the North Caddo Conservation District provided potted native plants grown in their new greenhouse as table centerpieces.

Leaders representing the three parts of the conservation partnership in Oklahoma: Trey Lam, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission, Ed Casey, President of the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts, and Jean Lam with the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts.

The significance of the anniversary was recognized by the Oklahoma Senate and House of Representatives in a joint resolution passed "to celebrate April 27, 2025, as the 90th anniversary of the establishment of the USDA Soil Conservation Service (now the Natural Resources Conservation Service) and commends the past and present employees of the Service for their work in conserving the soil and water resources of our state."

Conservation professionals from across generations and the state gathered to commemorate 90 years of conservation in Oklahoma.

Speakers and Insights

Master of Ceremonies Jayme Wood opened the afternoon with recognition and celebration of the professional conservationists in attendance.

Larry Caldwell, OCHS board member, told then audience about OCHS’s mission to "collect, preserve, and share Oklahoma's rich conservation history."

Jeanne Jasper, current Oklahoma NRCS State Conservationist, reminded attendees that "everything we do as an agency is just as important as it was 90 years ago when we were founded." While challenges remains, it is important to celebrate conservation accomplishments, including increases of acres in perennial vegetation, cover crops, and prescribed grazing plans over the last five years.

Ed Casey, President of the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts (OACD), highlighted the organization's representation of 84 conservation districts in Oklahoma, including 5 tribal districts, 445 district supervisors, and 140 OACD employees. With an annual budget of $1 million, OACD leads numerous programs and outreach efforts focused on working lands.

Trey Lam, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission since 2014, compared the conservation partnership to a three-legged stool, emphasizing that "if you lose one leg, it all falls apart." He highlighted conservation successes in water quality, invasive species control, and flood management.

Kevin Norton, former NRCS Associate Chief and Oklahoma native from Anadarko, discussed 90 years of evolution in conservation programs and technology. He praised Oklahoma's leadership in conservation through the decades.

Mason Mungle delivers remarks at the 90th anniversary celebration of the Soil Conservation Service held April 28th, 2025 at the Canadian County Expo Center in El Reno, Oklahoma.

Keynote: Building Bridges for Future Generations

The keynote speaker was Mason Mungle, former Oklahoma Conservation Commission Executive Director (1986-1997), who was raised on a dairy farm in Atoka started by his grandparents Paul Mungle and Ethie Mungle. Mason honored the many professional conservationists who have made a difference in Oklahoma

Mungle concluded his remarks with quotation from "The Bridge Builder" by Will Allen Dromgoole (1860-1934), a poem his grandmother, Ethie Mungle, read at conservation events:

"Old man," cried a fellow pilgrim near, "You're wasting your time in building here... Why build you this bridge at even-tide?" The builder lifted his old gray head. "Good friend, in the path I have come," he said, "There follows after me today A youth whose feet must pass this way... Good friend, I am building this bridge for him."

This poem captured the spirit of the day—celebrating not just 90 years of conservation achievement, but the ongoing commitment to conserving our state’s soil and water resources for future generations to come.

Oklahoma Conservation Historical Society board members at the 90th anniversary celebration of the Soil Conservation Service.

Looking Forward

As Oklahoma's conservation community celebrated this significant milestone, the message was clear: the work begun 90 years ago with Public Law 74-46 continues to be as vital today as it was during the 1930s. The federal-state-local partnership that emerged from that legislation has proven resilient and adaptable, addressing new challenges while maintaining its core mission of protecting and conserving our nation's soil and water resources.

Special thanks to our co-hosts: Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts, NRCS, and the Oklahoma Conservation Commission for helping make this event possible.

Thanks also to the Oklahoma Historical Society's Preservation Heritage Grant Program, which helped underwrite OCHS's series of Spring events commemorating the 90 years since Black Sunday and creation of the Soil Conservation Service.

The Oklahoma Conservation Historical Society relies on support from our members to do our work. Please consider joining us in collecting, preserving, and sharing Oklahoma’s rich conservation history.

Join here: https://www.oklahomaconservationhistory.org/join-donate