Alba to host Southern Plains Grassland Summit after committee approves $4,450 application

The Alba Tourism Committee approved an application on a motion not to exceed $4,450 to host the Southern Plains Grassland Summit at the local arena, organizers told the committee.

The summit’s coordinator, who identified themself as the coordinator for the Community Pool Prairie Resource Foundation, said the three-day event will include three conference tracks, vendor exhibits with large equipment staged inside the arena, a plenary address and bus tours to local conservation sites. “We’re losing thousands of acres of grasslands every day to development, cultivation, with the species encroachment,” the presenter said, arguing the summit is needed to educate landowners and managers.

Organizers estimated 300–500 attendees, including ranchers and landowners, academics working in grasslands ecology, wildlife biologists and government agency personnel. The schedule described to the committee calls for vendor set-up on the first day, a primary conference day the following day with plenary and breakout sessions, and bus tours on the final day to visit conservation projects and a wildlife refuge.

County Economic Development will host the summit website and handle registration and fiduciary responsibilities, the coordinator said. Several conservation organizations and local colleges have agreed to provide support or equipment, and local restaurants were mentioned as potential caterers.

On procedural questions, committee members asked about frequency and legacy: presenters said they have discussed making the summit recurring but have not finalized a schedule, and suggested it might be held every other year. The committee recorded the motion to approve the application by roll call.

Next procedural steps include launching online registration and finalizing the plenary speaker and logistics with arena staff.