The Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission welcomed rancher Eric Chapman, 61, of Mannsville during its June 9 meeting. Gov. J. Kevin Stitt appointed Chapman in March to fill the District 4 seat that was held by Leigh Gaddis of Ada, who served 10.5 years.

“I’m just looking forward to understanding everything the Commission does and making things better for the state of Oklahoma, and taking care of the fish and game and birds,” Chapman said.

Chapman’s Rock Prairie farming and ranching business is a family operation on about 20,000 acres. “Most of it is pretty hands on.” He also markets hunting leases on most of the ranch.

He grew up hunting and fishing in the same area where his ancestors have lived for four generations. “We’ve been in that area over 100 years.” And he enjoyed the chance to raise his children on the land. “I’ve taken my kids, and we’ve grown up hunting around the ranch, and fished and did a lot of ... things.”

After graduating from Ardmore High School, he furthered his education at Oklahoma State University and also studied ranch management at Texas Christian University. He is on the board of directors of the National Livestock Producers Association, has served for decades on the board of the Arbuckle Conservation District (NRCS), and is active in the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association.

Chapman said among his concerns is ensuring a good future for the next generation.

“I’m just trying to take it all in and see what’s best for mainly the youth and trying to get them off of computers and back out in the country so they can learn to enjoy it like our generation did.

“It’s important that we take care of the wildlife … and just try to do what’s right,” he said.

Chapman and his wife, Tracie, have a son, two daughters, and four grandchildren.

The Wildlife Commission’s District 4 includes the counties of Creek, Lincoln, Okfuskee, Seminole, Pottawatomie, Pontotoc, Hughes, Johnston, and Coal.

The Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission is the eight-member governing board of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. The Commission establishes state hunting and fishing regulations, sets policy for the Wildlife Department, and indirectly oversees all state fish and wildlife conservation activities.