Senior Farm Broadcaster, Ron Hays, had the chance to visit with Destinee Weeks about Hands off My Land to talk about Oklahoma property rights. Weeks explained that “Hands Off My Land is an advocacy group formed basically for exactly what it sounds like—to protect our land and protect the rights of those landowners and rural citizens across the state.” She emphasized the group’s diversity, saying it includes people from “every nook and cranny of the state” who share the same principle of preserving rural lifestyles.
She noted the group was sparked by legislative debates: “During session, there was a lot of discussion about property rights, and where the general public’s interest overlaps with property rights, specifically in the energy sector.” Bills about wind and solar setbacks raised wider questions, which she called “a little bit alarming” for landowners who rely on generational farms.
Addressing groups with different views, Weeks said: “ We have very different views on what private property rights and what it’s going to take to save Oklahoma farms and ranches.” She stressed her group’s position: “We believe that we, as the landowners know what’s best for our families, and that we know the best stewardship and the best practices to keep this family farm together.”
Weeks explained their stance simply: “If you want an oil well, I think that you should be able to sign that agreement If you want a wind turbine, I think you should be able to sign a wind lease. If you want to run Black Angus cows, that could be your choice. And if you want to have chickens, that should be your choice.” For her, it all ties back to “individual rights and knowing what’s best for you and not asking the government to do for you or to make decisions for you or your neighbor.”
She expressed deep concern about zoning when it comes to Oklahoma property rights: “that’s probably my number one concern what that means is that there would be an entire permitting process for nearly every development on the land everything that you need to function as an individual farmer or rancher would be subject to permit approval.” Oklahoma, she argued, has long trusted landowners: “We’re almost the wild west and so I really am going to push against zoning.”
Reflecting on broader policy, Weeks said, “We need to be very, very careful putting restrictions on energy development and rural areas and farming communities when I think that is one of the reasons Oklahoma has continued to thrive.” She pointed out how wind and solar allow surface owners new opportunities: “Wind and solar provides surface owners the opportunity to lease their land and have that generational guaranteed income.”
Finally, she reinforced her group’s approach: “We welcome opinions. We welcome education. we’re a very fact-based, data-driven group we welcome facts, welcome data to support every avenue of rural development and rural life and supporting farmers and ranchers across the state.”
