OACD President Jimmy Emmons presents Rep. Mike Sanders with the OACD Legislator of the Year at the 2018 OACD State Meeting.

The Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts is pleased to recognize state Representative Mike Sanders (R-Kingfisher) as the OACD Legislator of the Year. Rep. Sanders was honored at the OACD Annual Meeting on Monday February 27th for his work championing conservation practices in agriculture.

“Mike Sanders is a representative that truly represents the people of Oklahoma and its natural resources,” said OACD president Jimmy Emmons.

Trey Lam, executive director of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission said, “I’m glad to see OACD honoring a great friend of conservation, Rep. Mike Sanders. To preserve and restore Oklahoma’s soil and water we need leaders like Rep. Sanders who understand the importance of locally-led, incentive based, voluntary programs. Rep. Sanders can support local conservation efforts because he has been on the farms and ranches of central and northwest Oklahoma to see the proven success stories.”

“I am incredibly honored to have received this award. The OACD and the Conservation Districts across the state do the Lord’s work. Everything from soil heath studies, dam rehabilitation work, and watersheds, I am amazed of what they do for our local communities and state. I am grateful and honored to have received this but the real winners are those producers, farmers, and ranchers out in the field applying these new technologies for Agriculture. We live in a great state” Rep. Sanders said of the recognition.

Before joining the Oklahoma House of Representatives, Rep. Sanders worked in the White House under President George W. Bush. He then continued his service as Deputy Chief of Staff for Rural Development and the Senior Advisor to the Chief of Natural Resources Conservation Service for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In addition to his role as House Majority Leader, Rep. Sanders currently serves on the House Agriculture and Rural Development Committee, the House Appropriations and Budget Committee, the House Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and several other committees.

Congratulations Rep. Sanders on being named the OACD Legislator of the Year!