OCC’s Amy Seiger to receive first Regenerative Agriculture Woman of the Year Award

The Oklahoma Conservation Commission’s (OCC) Amy Seiger has been chosen as the first recipient of the national Regenerative Agriculture Woman of the Year Award. High Plains Journal in partnership with Soil Health U is recognizing Seiger, the Oklahoma Conservation Commission Soil Health Coordinator, with the award during the Soil Health U Virtual Event, Jan. 21, 2021.

Nicol Ragland said, “Amy is a driving force in the state of Oklahoma promoting soil health. Coming from a farming family herself, she realized the importance at a very early age and has devoted her life to the work ever since. Amy’s outreach, as well as one-on-one consultations regarding conservation, have been unprecedented and worthy of both statewide and national recognition.”

Jimmy Emmons, a Leopold Conservation Award Winner and a keynote speaker during the upcoming Soil Health U virtual event, said, “Amy is an asset to Oklahoma farmers and ranchers due to her work with the Conservation Commission, helping to increase awareness of soil health. Amy is well-deserving of this recognition and I’m proud of the difference she continues to make.”

In November 2020, Seiger became only the second recipient of a Natural Resources Award from the Chickasaw Nation Office of Natural Resources. The Chickasaw Nation honored partners in conservation at the Chickasaw Office of Natural Resources Awards Ceremony held via Zoom and Seiger received the “Eagle’s Flight, the Visionary Conservation Partnership Award.”

Seiger’s position is a partnership of the OCC, Natural Resources Conservation Service and The Nature Conservancy.

Jennifer Bryant, Water Resources Manager with the Chickasaw Nation Office of Natural Resources, said, “Working with Amy Seiger is always such a pleasure. She’s been a huge help to our program this year. Amy’s played an integral role in the development of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Chickasaw Nation, Oklahoma Conservation Commission, Oka’ Institute and the Natural Resources Conservation Service to partner to support each other’s work in watersheds. In addition, she had taken the time to train our staff in soil sampling techniques to help our local producers. In everything Amy does, you can tell she truly has the local producer at heart, and for that we are truly glad to be able to work with her on so many projects.”

At that time, Trey Lam, Executive Director of OCC, said, “The Oklahoma Conservation Commission is very proud of Amy Seiger’s efforts to promote soil health through working with the Chickasaw Nation both in terms of outreach to many or one-on-one consultations regarding conservation. Conservation has made great strides in Oklahoma and one of the key components to that is a common drive and commitment among the conservation partners, and the Chickasaw Nation is an amazing partner.”

Of the upcoming national award for Seiger, Lam said, “Amy is a trailblazer in soil health program delivery as shown by being only the second recipient of the prestigious Eagle’s Flight Award, and first of this incredible Award. This is amazing and is truly wonderful news.”