The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation will host the 2007 Oklahoma Section Society for Range Management annual meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 12, and Thursday, Sept. 13, at the Noble Foundation's campus in Ardmore.

Entitled Rangelands and Alternative Energy, the annual meeting will begin at noon on Wednesday at the Noble Foundation Coffey Ranch, where there will be sessions on rangeland rehabilitation tools, fire effects and the Walnut Bayou Deer Management Association.

The activities will continue at 6 p.m. at the Noble Foundation Pavilion with vendor exhibits/trade show, an awards program, dinner and entertainment. George Diggs, Ph.D., from Austin College and co-author of "Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas," will be the evening's guest speaker, providing a history of the Cross Timbers.

Thursday's portion of the meeting will include a presentation by Joe Bouton, Ph.D., Senior Vice President and Director of the Forage Improvement Division at the Noble Foundation. Bouton will speak on the potential of switchgrass as an alternative fuel source. He will be followed by Stan Kimbel, who will address harnessing wind power for alternative energy. The afternoon sessions will focus on efforts to use mesquite as an alternative fuel source. Phil Schroeder, Ph.D., Cameron University, will speak on mapping mesquite in southwest Oklahoma, while R. James Ansley, Ph.D., Texas A&M University, will discuss research on mesquite-centered alternative fuels.

"This year's annual meeting will provide land managers with valuable information on some of the latest research and scientific advances that are impacting range management," said Chuck Coffey, President of the Oklahoma Section Society for Range Management and agricultural specialist with the Noble Foundation. "We hope all those who have been thinking about joining our organization will come out and make the annual meeting their first meeting as a member."

For additional information about the Oklahoma Section Society for Range Management annual meeting or to join the organization, call Coffey at 580.224.6436 or by email at crcoffey@noble.org.

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News Release Issued: September 5, 2007

The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc. (www.noble.org), headquartered in Ardmore, Okla., is a nonprofit organization conducting agricultural, forage improvement and plant biology research; assisting farmers and ranchers through educational and consultative agricultural programs; and providing grants to nonprofit charitable, educational and health organizations.