Diversifying Land Use in the Trans-Pecos: Informing Landowner Strategies for Conservation and Economic Sustainability

About This Event:
Join fellow landowners, legal experts, conservationists, and industry professionals for a dynamic, solutions-focused conference designed to help landowners in the Trans-Pecos region of Texas navigate a changing landscape. This one-of-a-kind event will explore alternative land use practices that support economic opportunity, environmental stewardship, and long-term sustainability.

Key Topics Include:

• Legal insights into energy development (renewables, oil & gas, transmission) from qualified attorneys
• Real-world perspectives on the benefits and risks of energy development
• Opportunities in ecosystem services including carbon credits and emerging markets
• Alternative land uses like ecotourism and conservation easements
• Practical strategies for land stewardship, rangeland enhancement, and profitable ranching
• Plus an update on the current situation with the New World Screwworm.
• Whether you’re exploring new revenue streams, facing legal challenges, or committed to conservation, this event offers actionable insights to help you make the most of your land—today and for the future.

James Oliver, former Chair of the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Natural Resources & Wildlife Committee, has served as a Director since 2018. He and his family ranch in Crockett and Kinney Counties and he has nearly 30 years of experience in agricultural banking. A Senior Vice President and Chief Lending Officer at Ozona Bank, James also serves on the boards of TALT, the Texas Foundation for Conservation, and the Texas Land Trust Council.

Matt Harriger is an eminent domain attorney with extensive experience litigating large-scale infrastructure projects across Texas. A former Assistant Attorney General in the Transportation Division, he spent nearly a decade representing the State in condemnation cases before transitioning to advocate for property owners statewide. A graduate of Hohmann, Taube & Summers, LLP, Matt has tried numerous jury and administrative cases and now focuses on protecting landowner rights. He is an Eagle Scout from Lubbock, Texas.

Parks Brown represents landowners, mineral owners and fiduciaries in the negotiation and management of oil and gas leases, solar leases, wind leases, pipeline easements, surface use agreements, mining leases, carbon sequestration agreements, and related land use contracts.

Dr. Bonnie J. Warnock is a Professor and serves as Dean of the College of Agriculture, Life, and Physical Sciences. Bonnie teaches the range and soils courses and advises students within the Range Management and Agribusiness Management concentrations. She also serves as an advisor for the Student Chapter of the Society for Range Management. Her research interests are focused on restoration and its tie to sustainable ranching, with projects in grassland restoration, riparian restoration, grazing, and fire.

Price Rumbelow earned a master’s degree from Sul Ross State University. He has held habitat conservation roles with the National Park Service and Texas State Parks and currently serves as Conservation Delivery Coordinator for the Rio Grande Joint Venture. In this role, he implements collaborative, science-based strategies to enhance the grasslands, riparian corridors, and wetlands of the Chihuahuan Desert and advance RGJV’s mission to conserve birds and their habitats.

Clay Miller is a fourth-generation steward of C.E. Miller Ranch near Valentine, Texas, continuing his family’s ranching legacy in the Chihuahuan Desert. As Regional Steward for the Texas Agricultural Land Trust and Vice-Chair of the Trans Pecos Grazing Lands Coalition, he promotes conservation, grazing land health, and sustainable ranching. He also serves on the Jeff Davis Underground Water District board, advancing responsible land and water stewardship across the Trans-Pecos.

Billy Tarrant is the Associate Director of Stewardship Services at Borderlands Research Institute where his main responsibility is managing the Center for Land Stewardship and Stakeholder Engagement, which provides technical resources for landowners, energy developers, community members, and conservation partners.

Peyton Schumann, a native of Novice, Texas, grew up on a ranch where his family now operates a stocker cattle business. A graduate of Coleman High School and Texas Tech University, he began his career in the Texas Senate and later held roles with Texans for Greg Abbott, the Texas General Land Office, and the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, where he now serves as Senior Director of Government Relations.

Dr. Silverio Avila is an Assistant Professor and Extension Range Specialist with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Borderlands Research Institute. His work focuses on rangeland restoration, fire ecology, grazing impacts, and UAV remote sensing for range and wildlife management. He holds degrees from Universidad Autonoma Agraria Antonio Narro and Texas A&M University–Kingsville, where he studied vegetation dynamics, prescribed fire, and bobwhite habitat in semi-arid ecosystems.

Dr. Bill Fox is an Emeritus Associate Professor with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and the Department of Rangeland, Wildlife & Fisheries Management. He has led research on rangeland management, ecosystem services, and carbon sequestration, and developed the ISEEC Framework used to assess rangeland systems. He serves as a science advisor for the Ecosystem Services Market Consortium and Texas Grazing Lands Coalition and enjoys time at his family ranch in Bee County.

Chad Ellis is Chief Executive Officer of the Texas Agricultural Land Trust, with over 25 years of experience helping producers and land managers implement stewardship-focused practices. A producer himself in Lohn, Texas, he is dedicated to empowering land stewards for continuous improvement. Ellis has held national leadership roles, including past chair of the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, Ecosystem Services Market Consortium, and Trust in Food’s Trust in Beef program.

Dr. Maureen Frank, originally from Colorado, earned her B.S. in Wildlife Ecology from Texas A&M and Ph.D. from Utah State University, where she studied migratory waterbirds at Great Salt Lake. Now a Wildlife Extension Specialist with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, she helps landowners manage wildlife and explore ecotourism opportunities. Her work centers on connecting people to the land through conservation, with research interests in grassland birds, working lands, and science communication.

Dr. Jason Sawyer is Chief Science Officer for the East Foundation, where he leads research integrated with ranching operations to support sustainable working lands. With over 25 years of experience in livestock research and production management, he focuses on improving the sustainability and value of beef production systems. His work emphasizes developing strategies and indicators that enhance both environmental and economic outcomes in rangeland and ranching systems.

Ann Mitchell, born in Kermit, Texas, grew up on the Haley Ranch along the Winkler and Loving County lines. She earned a degree in Range Animal Science from Sul Ross State University and a master’s in Special Education from Texas A&M–Kingsville. After 23 years in education, she returned to manage the family ranch. Ann and her husband, Billy Mitchell, live in Midland and have three married sons, six grandchildren, and two step-grandchildren.

Lowell Woodward of Alpine is a fourth-generation West Texas rancher with over 30 years of experience ranching in Pecos, Crockett, and Brewster counties. He operates a purebred Brangus cow-calf operation and raises fine wool sheep, market goats, and paint horses. A TCU Ranch Management graduate, Woodward has served on numerous boards, including the Rio Grande Electric Co-op and Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers Association, and was named Pecos County Conservation Rancher of the Year.

Kevin Clegg is Vice President of Emerging Energy at University Lands, which manages 2.1 million acres in West Texas for the Permanent University Fund. He leads efforts to evaluate proposals for renewables, power generation, data centers, and other surface projects. Kevin began his career offshore with Chevron and later worked in energy investment and decarbonization. He holds degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Plan II Honors from UT and an MBA from Rice University.