Mighty 97th tours Altus-Lugert Dam

By Airman 1st Class Breanna Klemm, 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs Office / Published October 18, 2019

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Tom Buchanan, the Altus-Lugert Irrigation District manager, gives a group of Airmen assigned to the 97th Air Mobility Wing a tour of the Altus-Lugert Dam, Oct. 11, 2019, at Quartz Mountain State Park, Okla. Each year, Airmen from the Mighty 97th have the opportunity to tour local farms and essential pieces of the Altus community during Farm City Week. One of the events from this year’s festivities was touring the Altus-Lugert Dam. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Breanna Klemm)

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Tom Buchanan, the Altus-Lugert Irrigation District manager, gives a group of Airmen assigned to the 97th Air Mobility Wing a tour of the inside of the Altus-Lugert Dam, Oct. 11, 2019, at Quartz Mountain State Park, Okla. Last week, Airmen got to witness first hand its importance and power to the community of Altus by touring the top and inside of the dam. Events like these are important in keeping Airmen educated while keeping the heritage of Mobility’s Hometown alive. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Breanna Klemm)

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A group of Airmen assigned to the 97th Air Mobility Wing go inside the Altus-Lugert Dam, Oct. 11, 2019, at Quartz Mountain State Park, Okla. This dam, although small, provides water and irrigation for all the farmers in southwest Oklahoma and parts of northern Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Breanna Klemm)

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A plaque is seen mounted on a piece of limestone at the top of the Altus-Lugert Dam explaining the dam’s history, Oct. 11, 2019, at Quartz Mountain State Part, Okla. Due to the fact that Altus does not get much rain and droughts continue to be a possibility, the Altus-Lugert Dam is key in providing dedicated farmers the water they need to keep their crops alive. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Breanna Klemm)

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Tom Buchanan, the Altus-Lugert Irrigation District manager, gives a group of Airmen assigned to the 97th Air Mobility Wing a tour of the Altus-Lugert Dam, Oct. 11, 2019, at Quartz Mountain State Park, Okla. Throughout the two-hour tour, Buchanan spoke on the dam’s long history, significance and importance to the Altus farmers because without it, Altus would not be where it is today. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Breanna Klemm)

ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --

Each year, Airmen from the Mighty 97th have the opportunity to tour local farms and essential pieces of the Altus community during Farm City Week. One of the events from this year’s festivities was touring the Altus-Lugert Dam, located in Quartz Mountain State Park, Okla., on Oct. 11, 2019. This dam, although small, provides water and irrigation for all the farmers in southwest Oklahoma and some parts of Texas. The tour was led by Tom Buchanan, the Altus-Lugert Irrigation District manager, who was born and raised here in Altus. Throughout the two-hour tour, Buchanan spoke on the dam’s long history, significance, and its importance to farmers because without it, Altus would not be where it is today. Due to the fact that Altus does not get much rain and droughts continue to be a possibility, the Altus-Lugert Dam is key in providing farmers the water they need to keep their crops alive. Last week, Airmen got to witness first hand its importance and power to the community of Altus by touring the top and inside of the dam. Events like these are important in keeping Airmen educated while keeping the heritage of Mobility’s Hometown alive.