April 14, 2025, marked the 90th anniversary of Black Sunday, the most infamous day of the Dust Bowl era and one of the darkest moments in America’s environmental history. On that day in 1935, a massive dust storm swept across the Southern Plains, turning daylight into darkness and leaving behind a wake of devastation. Oklahoma, the heart of the storm, remembers it not just for the destruction it caused, but for the movement it sparked. A movement that gave birth to voluntary conservation and the vital work of conservation districts across the nation.

To honor the gravity and legacy of Black Sunday, the Oklahoma Senate, led by Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton, unanimously passed a bipartisan resolution commemorating the event’s 90th anniversary. Senator Paxton reminded Oklahomans that the resolution is not only about the past but a call to continue safeguarding our soil, water, and natural resources for future generations.

“This is a resolution that not only signifies what happened that day but also what’s happened since then in making our state a much better place to live,” said Paxton.

For Trey Lam, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission, Black Sunday is more than a historical milestone, it’s personal. “My mother, Betty, still recounts the ride home from church in Beckham County as she and her brother Tom watched the black wall of dust roll up behind them,” Lam shared. “Only later, when my father introduced me to soil conservation, did I understand that April 14, 1935, was the turning point that led to the end of the Dust Bowl with the birth of America’s voluntary natural resources conservation movement.”

That turning point, born from the devastation of the Dust Bowl, gave rise to local conservation districts, the Oklahoma Conservation Commission (OCC), the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and a nationwide focus on conserving our most vital resources. What began as an urgent response to environmental disaster has evolved into an enduring mission, one carried forward every day by local conservation leaders and land stewards.

Ben Pollard, President of the Oklahoma Conservation Historical Society, echoed this sentiment: “The Dust Bowl became the catalyst for the soil conservation movement in our country which has greatly benefitted Oklahoma. It is important that Oklahomans be reminded of this history and the importance of protecting our soil resources.”

As we reflect on Black Sunday, we honor the foresight and resilience of those who weathered the storm and laid the foundation for today’s conservation efforts. The work of local conservation districts partnering with producers, landowners, and agencies continues to build a more resilient landscape, preventing erosion, improving water quality, and strengthening communities.

The Dust Bowl taught us that healthy soil and sound stewardship are not just environmental issues, they are matters of public well-being, food security, and economic stability. Thanks to the tireless work of conservation districts, and with continued public support, we can ensure that such devastation never happens again.

Let us remember Black Sunday not only for its impact, but for the movement it inspired a legacy of conservation, collaboration, and commitment to the land that continues to shape our future.