On the rolling plains of southern Oklahoma, a vision took root in the mind of a man who was determined to restore what had been lost to drought and erosion in the 1930s and nurture what could grow. Lloyd Noble, an oil entrepreneur with a conservationist’s heart, believed that healthy soil is the cornerstone of a thriving nation. In 1945, that belief became a reality with the founding of what’s known today as Noble Research Institute, an institution that continues to transform agricultural landscapes and lives.
As we celebrate Noble’s 80th anniversary this year, we remember not just a milestone, but a mission. When Lloyd Noble established his science-based institute on Sept. 19, 1945, his goal was both simple and profound: to help farmers and ranchers rebuild their land and livelihoods in the wake of the Dust Bowl. Noble Research Institute endures today as a beacon of scientific discovery and practical support for farmers and ranchers.
Noble has grown beyond our founder’s imagination. Beginning as a regional conservation consulting and education effort, we’ve developed into one of the nation’s leading non-profit institutions for agricultural research and producer support. Noble continually adapts its focus to meet the evolving needs of land stewards, from 1945’s post-Dust Bowl recovery to today’s multifaceted needs for climate-resilient farming and ranching methods.
In 2021, Noble sharpened its focus to better support livestock producers, embarking on a new initiative to become a leader in regenerative land management. Noble’s impact can be seen across hundreds of thousands of acres of restored land and in the lives of producers who have found new hope in regenerative practices. What’s more, Noble is giving farmers and ranchers a voice in a growing national conversation about the future of food, farming and the environment.
As global challenges like soil erosion, water scarcity, loss of grazing land and weather instability grow more urgent, Noble’s mission is more important than ever. Through regenerative agriculture, Noble is proving that environmental health and agricultural profitability are not in conflict, but they are deeply interconnected.
As Noble Research Institute celebrates its 80th anniversary, we do so not by looking backward, but by preparing for the next 80 years of innovation and impact and beyond.
The challenges facing agriculture today are formidable. But they are not insurmountable.
Currently, Noble is launching new educational initiatives aimed at accelerating the adoption of regenerative ranching practices nationwide. From field research on carbon sequestration to expanding digital tools that support decision-making in real time, Noble is leading the charge toward a more resilient future for America’s grazing lands and those who steward them.
Lloyd Noble saw something in the soil that others overlooked — not just the potential for recovery, but the promise of renewal. He believed that if we take care of the land, it will take care of us in return. That idea continues to shape the work of Noble Research Institute today.
As we mark our 80th anniversary, we honor a movement started by Lloyd Noble himself. A movement rooted in care for our fellow man, driven by knowledge and sustained by a deep respect for the land and the people who depend on it.
As part of our celebration of this significant milestone, Noble Research Institute is hosting a special event, Roots & Revelry, to celebrate the land, our legacy and the people who make both flourish.
Please join us in Ardmore, Oklahoma, on Oct. 22, 2025, for Roots & Revelry, to commemorate our founder’s vision, the resilience of farmers and ranchers, and our deep-rooted commitment to land stewardship.
Cheers to 80 years!
Elisa Jackson
Elisa Jackson, Director of Development
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