September News

Engaging Youth Entrepreneurs

Dr. Darryl Birkenfeld, Director, Ogallala Commons

Dr. Birkenfeld shares with attendees at the WT Youth
Engagement Day
(Photo credits to Greg Moreno)

More than 80 high school students, several teachers, along with more than a dozen WT ENACTUS  chapter members participated in OC’s 7th Annual Youth Engagement Day on September 18th at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, TX.Students from 5 high schools in Texas (Canyon, Hereford, Plainview, Dimmitt, and Tulia) worked in small groups to “Explore Entrepreneurship,” using some assessment materials and videos from the Council for Economic Education (www.councilforeconed.org).  Next, three young adult entrepreneurs who have started businesses shared their stories: Austin McWhorter, AMAC Custom Built Rods (www.amacrods.com), Roman Leal, Evocation Coffee (www.evocationcoffee.com), and OC’s very own Justin Trammell, JBT Sustainable Ag.

Fueled with examples and ideas, the small groups went down to the Courthouse Square in Canyon, where each group conducted a visit and an interview with these business located in the downtown area: Paper Crane, Consolidated Beef Products, Palace Coffee, Rock ‘n Roll Soda Shoppe, Hudspeth House, Cat-man-du, Reuze Discount Store, Canyon Rim Pottery, and the Canyon Chamber of Commerce.

More than 80 high school students attended the
September 18th Youth Engagement Day.
(Photo credits to Greg Moreno)

Before the event wrapped up, students gave reports about their business visits, and were encouraged to enter the upcoming Youth Entrepreneur Fair and to apply for an OC Community Internship.  Above all, students
 were encouraged to develop entrepreneurial skills, and to recognize that all communities want and need youth to return—when they choose and when they are ready—to live, work, and raise their families. 

Ogallala Commons and partners will present the next Youth Engagement Day in Mullen, Nebraska on Oct. 15th.

Getting Outside with Kids in the Southern High Plains

Julie Hodges, Education Coordinator, Ogallala Commons

Students explore the outdoors at a recent
Playa Festival

The Playa Festival Season in September and October mark a busy time for OC staff, our agency partners, a few interns and volunteers. This program employs regionally specific hands-on learning opportunities and partnerships with both federal and private organizations to bring 5th grade students, their teachers and communities a one-of-a-kind outdoor education experience.   A typical festival includes classroom sessions with expert faculty on flora, fauna, soils, and the Ogallala Aquifer followed by a field trip to a near by Playa.  Last year, we began including water and wetland festivals to expand our program to schools that live near other water resources.

So far, OC has worked with over 350 children and 50 educators, bringing them hands-on opportunities to see, touch and experience the unique wetlands of our region.  These events are great fun, but also serve as an educational anchor that can be referred to throughout the school year as students learn about ecology, soils, physical science and social studies.

Fall 2013 Festival Schedule

Sept. 9th	Bean Elementary Wetland Festival	Lubbock, Texas
September 10th	Ascension Academy Playa Festival	Amarillo, Texas
Sept. 16th	Ervin Elementary Wetland Festival	Lubbock, Texas
Sept 23rd	Whiteface – Morton Playa Festival	Whiteface, Texas
Sept. 26th	Pep High School Playa Festival	Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge
Sept. 26th	Nazareth and Kress Playa Festival	Nazareth, Texas (Playa Classroom)
October 2nd	Canadian Water Festival	Canadian, Texas
October 3rd	Amherst and Sudan Playa Festival	Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge
October 8th	Farwell Playa Festival	Farwell, Texas
October 10th	Lockney Playa Festival	Lockney, Texas

Planned Grazing and Prairie Ecology:
Upcoming Google Hangout for Interns and Alumni

Simone Cahoj, Board Member, Ogallala Commons

Justin Trammell (JBT Sustainable Ag)
will be presenting at the
September 30th Intern Hangout

Through the use of Google Hangouts on Air, Ogallala Commons’ intern alumni are staying connected and learning from each other. Our next intern Google Hangout will be September 30 at 7 PM. Intern alum Justin Trammell (JBT Sustainable Ag) will be presenting on the effects that planned grazing can have on prairie ecology.

Once the Hangouts are completed, the entire conversation is recorded and uploaded to YouTube, creating a record of exciting presentations and networking for Ogallala Commons’ interns.  2013 intern, Beto Rincon's presentation from the first ever hangout can be found here. 

More information, including how to get on Google Hangouts on Air, the schedule of Hangouts and topics, will be sent out. If you’re interested in participating, add Simone Cahoj, simone.cahoj@gmail.com, on Google+ using your Gmail email address.  Plans are still in the works for physical meet-ups at Quivira Coalition’s Conference in Albuquerque, NM on November 13-15.