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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Below is information about the Oklahoma Conservation Summit, August 18.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p style="text-align:justify;line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif;color:black">-----------------------------------------------------------------</span><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif;color:black">The Oklahoma Conservation Task Force will host a
</span><a href="https://www.noble.org/events/oklahoma-conservation-summit/"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif">Conservation Summit</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif;color:black">
from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Aug. 18, 2017 at the </span><a href="https://www.mntc.edu/"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif">Moore-Norman Technology Center</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif;color:black">
South Penn campus, located at 13301 S. Pennsylvania Ave. in Oklahoma City. </span>
<span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif;color:black">The summit is open to individuals and organizations engaged in conservation to share successes and plan future collaborations
to enhance Oklahoma’s natural heritage. Congressman Frank Lucas will begin the day with a national perspective of conservation policy. The afternoon will consist of break-out sessions to address the state’s conservation issues. For the full agenda, please
visit </span><a href="https://www.noble.org/events/oklahoma-conservation-summit/"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif">https://www.noble.org/events/oklahoma-conservation-summit/</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif;color:black">.</span><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif;color:black">“As urban areas continue to grow, land and water resources are depleting,” said
</span><a href="http://www.dasnr.okstate.edu/division-administration"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif">Tom Coon, Ph.D.</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif;color:black">,
vice president, dean and director of Oklahoma State University Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. “It’s important we all do our part as a united team to conserve, protect and restore Oklahoma’s natural resources. This is the next step
in toward advancing our conservation efforts across the state.”</span><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif;color:black">The task force is comprised of eight organizations, each dedicated to natural resource stewardship:
</span><a href="https://www.noble.org/"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif">The Noble Research Institute</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif;color:black">,
</span><a href="https://www.ok.gov/conservation/"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif">Oklahoma Conservation Commission</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif;color:black">,
</span><a href="http://www.dasnr.okstate.edu/"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif">Oklahoma State University Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif;color:black">,
</span><a href="http://www.okconservation.org/"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif">Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif;color:black">,
</span><a href="https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/site/ok/home/"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif">U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif;color:black">,
</span><a href="http://www.oda.state.ok.us/"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif">Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif;color:black">,
</span><a href="https://www.wildlifedepartment.com/"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif">Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif;color:black">,
and </span><a href="http://otcac.tripod.com/"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif">Oklahoma Tribal Conservation Advisory Council</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif;color:black">.
</span><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif;color:black">“The Noble Research Institute was established on the fundamental belief that the land and the soil are the most
important resources and that it is our duty to keep it healthy and productive for future generations,” said
</span><a href="https://www.noble.org/about/leadership/"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif">Bill Buckner</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif;color:black">,
president and CEO of the Noble Research Institute. “Each of the contributing organizations to this task force agree that conservation of our natural resources is critical to healthy lands and ultimately impacts all Oklahomans.”</span><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif;color:black">This statewide effort will focus on three collaborative objectives: enhance the development of conservation in Oklahoma,
coordination of research, and communication. In addition, the task force will identify and address major state conservation goals, develop models of success for specific topics, and develop informational resources and messaging to provide critical information
to the general public, those involved in conservation, and the next generation. </span>
<span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif;color:black">“Each organization involved plays a role in conserving Oklahoma’s vast resources, and we want to bring together
all of those resources to better serve our great state,” said </span><a href="https://www.ok.gov/conservation/About_Us/Executive_Director/index.html"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif">Trey Lam</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif;color:black">,
Oklahoma Conservation Commission executive director. “As state organizations go through budget cuts, it’s just as important to come together to address the conservation needs and look for new ways to expand our impact through collaboration.”</span><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif;color:black">There is no registration fee, but preregistration is required. For more information and to register, please visit
</span><a href="https://www.noble.org/events/oklahoma-conservation-summit/"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif">https://www.noble.org/events/oklahoma-conservation-summit/</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif;color:black">.</span><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"> </span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"> </span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="color:black">The event is also posted on Noble’s Facebook page, so please feel free to share it:</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#323E4F">
</span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/nobleresearchinstitute/"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">https://www.facebook.com/nobleresearchinstitute/</span></a><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F3864">
</span></b><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="color:black">By working together, we can achieve more for the conservation efforts in Oklahoma! We look forward to seeing you in Oklahoma City on August 18.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black"> </span></b><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><b><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif;color:black">Sent on behalf of Gary O’Neill, State Conservationist, USDA-NRCS</span></i></b><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Bradley Hand ITC";color:#1F3864">Connie Fitzpatrick</span></b><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F3864">USDA-NRCS-Oklahoma</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F3864">State Conservationist's Secretary
</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F3864">405.742.1204 (telephone) & 855.421.4640 (fax)</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"> </span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p><a href="http://bit.ly/2u84cpt"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="700" height="700" style="width:7.2916in;height:7.2916in" id="_x0000_i1025" src="http://img.noble.org/eblast/ok-conservation-summit.png" alt="Oklahoma Conservation Summit"></span></a><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">If you cannot view this message, please go to
</span><a href="http://bit.ly/2u84cpt"><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">noble.org/events/oklahoma-conservation-summit</span></a><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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