Phil Campbell

Luther, OK

Oklahoma County Conservation District

Phil Campbell grew up in Spencer, Oklahoma on a small farm where he helped his dad in the garden and had a small herd of Angus cattle. Agriculture was important to Campbell at an early age, and it helped fund most of his high school activities. Upon graduating high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force which allowed him to travel the world. In 2015, shortly before his retirement from service, Campbell and his family bought 40 acres near Luther, OK to begin developing into the farm they had always dreamed of owning – Campbell Farms.

From the very start, conservation was a passion for Campbell, and he wanted to do what was right for the land. His brother, a game warden for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, suggested he visit the Oklahoma County Conservation District to develop a conservation plan. His brother had worked with the district manager and NRCS staff and knew they would give Campbell solid advice. Ultimately, Campbell wanted to establish a small, yet productive cow-calf operation, and he needed to know how many heads of cattle the grass could support without any additional inputs. The local conservation district and NRCS staff walked his land with him, discussing the landscape and his goals.

Campbell participated in an Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) project, installing a water well and a pond for surface water. One of the issues Campbell faced was that his property is on a terraced slope. As precipitation would flow downhill, it would run into a creek that flows east to west on his property. Through the installation of a pond, they’re now able to capture that water and store it, preventing the soil from eroding and flowing into the creek. He has also invested in solar powered well systems for efficiency.

On his operation, Campbell practices rotational grazing to increase soil organic matter and forage production in his pastures. He has also increased the diversity of his operation by planting an orchard of 45 fruit trees and adding a flock of 100 Rhode Island Red chickens for their egg production.

After having such a good experience working with his local conservation district and NRCS office, he decided to apply to be a director of the Oklahoma County Conservation District. Then, six months later, the Oklahoma Governor appointed Campbell to be the Area II Commissioner of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission. While he was new to the conservation family, his desire to learn and enthusiasm to share information has led him into various leadership trainings and positions. His background in the military has well-prepared him with experience in budgeting issues and setting funding priorities.

In 2020, Campbell was chosen through a competitive, national application process to become one of seven individuals chosen for the inaugural National Conservation Foundation’s (NCF) Next Generation Leadership Institute (NGLI) Cohort Program. Through this program, Campbell’s goal was to learn more about national conservation policy and partnerships that could help him be a better leader and communicator for the citizens and producers of Oklahoma.

Campbell also serves as a Conservation and Agriculture Reach Everyone (CARE) Ambassador, working to increase participation of socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in the USDA programs. His positive experience with the programs helps him in his role of ambassador and advocate for conservation and the programs to assist landowners. Additionally, he hosts field days to help bring conservation to life for attendees. His unwavering desire to assist producers has led to his current position as the Area II Director for the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts (OACD).

Campbell’s involvement in many conservation programs, projects, and organizations reveals a real passion for soil health and his desire to engage new, minority, underserved or disadvantaged operators, including assisting the veteran community. In this video from the NRCS Helping Farmers Help Farmers program/series, Campbell and his mentee Phillip Mitchell, a veteran from Seminole, OK share their story.

Posted October 2022