OACC 47 Presentations

October 9-11, 2026, Hammond Mill Camp

Panel discussion: Data Centers & Threats to Ozark Waters 

As concerns about data centers grow throughout the country, this year we will look at possible environmental and health impacts of data centers potentially to be built in the Ozarks. We will explore data centers' use electricity and water, and and look at state laws and local ordinances that regulate them.

Panel Members

Kelly Hunter Foster, Senior Attorney at Waterkeeper Alliance since 2010, offers organizations technical assistance, regulatory, legislative and policy evaluations, and litigation. She has worked with local governments to develop ordinances relating to data centers and public health.

Kimberly Barker is an award-winning journalist with more than a decade of experience covering news throughout Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma, and she is communications director for two environmental non-profits. Over the past year, she has been working with numerous groups throughout Oklahoma and Missouri who oppose data centers.

Gretchen Boisse, a Geological Engineer/Environmental Scientist, will discuss the Ozark aquifer, in the context of data centers’ potential impact on groundwater and wells.

Wren Haffner is organizing against data centers in the watersheds of the Ozarks and enlivening cultural storytelling around the rights of water. Wren stewards Mountain Jewel Land Project, expressing and sharing relationship with place through natural building, seed saving, and forest farming while hosting educational opportunities on these themes.

Panel Discussion: Ticks & the Emergence of Alpha-Gal Syndrome

Panel Members

Katrina Bogdon, is a naturopathic doctor licensed in the state of Washington. While Missouri does not recognize the practice of naturopathic medicine, she supports her clients in safely integrating natural approaches to their conventional care and helping them to navigate the medical system. Katrina lives with Alpha-gal Syndrome herself. She focuses on raising awareness so people know when to ask their doctor about testing, sharing tick-bite prevention strategies, and supporting clients with this condition. She operates Our Healing Roots, LLC, a naturopathic business in Seymour, MO.

Jim Long, Ozarks author, herbalist and co-owner of LongCreekHerbs.com, has written over 25 books. He will share his personal experiences with the life-changing world of Alpha-gal, including his diagnosis, learning to cook in new ways, and navigating hospitals as a kidney transplant patient, which included finding safe alternatives for reactive medications. He covers two available treatments: SAAT and NAET.

Noelle Callaway, pharmacist, will share guidelines developed for hospital staff who work with Alpha-gal patients, to help them evaluate foods or medicines that might trigger symptoms.

Planned Activities

OACC includes both pre-scheduled and spontaneous presentations. Scheduled activities are listed here.

State of the Ozarks. This popular session offers the opportunity to hear what others are doing and to share your news. Be prepared to give a short talk about your event, project, organization, business, or ideas. Whether you’re new or a long-timer, this session can help you find connections.

Open Space. Previously unscheduled events are added to the roster during our Open Space session. Join us to add your presentation at OACC. We set the final schedule then. OACC is all about sharing and participating!

Children’s activities. We expect to have planned and informal activities for children, with the support of their parents or guardians.

Coffeehouse Talent Show. Fun and entertaining! Enjoy our participants’ many talents. Everyone, from the smallest child, is encouraged to perform, be it with music, poems, theatrics, dance, or jokes.

Vendor booths. Exhibitors set up displays for their Ozark-based, environmentally-friendly, cottage-industry products.

This year's OACC brochure coming soon. Click here for last year's brochure.