Dear Stewards, Exciting news: Next week, you will receive the very first Statewide Conservation Committee (SCC) Newsletter, jam-packed with fascinating conservation information, updates, and resources! In addition to the newsletter, we've added a new page to every SOTW Wild Apricot site called "Conservation Connections." This webpage contains links to SOTW, TPWF, and other conservation-related resources that will assist you in staying informed and deepening your conservation knowledge. The SCC is also diligently planning events for this summer and fall in addition to the April 17 Lunch & Learn with Jay Kleberg of Gulf Trust and the October 9-12 West Texas Weekend. These additional events will take place on gorgeous private properties across the state and will provide you with opportunities to see and learn about ongoing conservation work firsthand, participate in that work, and enjoy the great outdoors. On top of all that, your local chapters have planned a plethora of fantastic opportunities for you to enjoy the sunshine before temps reach 100 degrees, get to know your fellow SOTW members, and learn more about what's happening in the Texas conversation realm! If you don't see events in your area listed below, rest assured your local chapter is working on getting you details ASAP.
In this issue: - Check out upcoming spring events
- Meet SOTW Member and TPWF Board Fellow Jonathan Worbington
- Read a recap of our annual mentored fishing trip at Powderhorn
- See how the Dallas Chapter is supporting TPWF's Desert Bighorn Sheep Initiative
- Join the San Antonio Chapter at its 7th Annual Wild Game Sausage Showdown April 6
- Learn about incredible TPWF partner Gulf Trust
- Get an update on TPWD's Toyota ShareLunker Program
Cheers, Katie P.S. Have you checked on the status of your SOTW membership lately? Only current members will receive the SCC newsletter and communications, have access to the Conservation Connections webpage, and be able to register for SCC events! If you need to renew, sign into your Wild Apricot account OR visit stewardsofthewild.org/become-a-member. |
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Upcoming Stewards of the Wild Events |
Native Floral Design Class | BCS | March 27 Join BCS Chapter at Carney's Pub Thursday, March 27 from 6-7 p.m. to learn about floral design with native Texas plants! Registration is required for those who plan on participating, all others may attend and watch the demonstration for free. Use the link below for more details and to register. |
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Wild Game Lunch at Loraloma Club | Austin | March 29
Join the Austin Chapter on Saturday, March 29, from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at the new Loraloma Club in Spicewood for a memorable wild game luncheon crafted by Chef Kristin Parma! Indulge in margaritas, a curated wild game grazing board, venison enchiladas, and more. Loraloma will also share their efforts in land conservation, followed by an exclusive tour of their activities including a putting green, fishing, and serene Hill Country views. |
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Camping Trip | BCS | April 4-6 Join the BCS Chapter for a weekend getaway to the East Texas Piney Woods April 4-6. The camping trip will be held at Huntsville State Park for a weekend of hiking, relaxing at the lake, and enjoying fabulous meals. |
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Sporting Clays Tournament | Houston | April 6
The Houston Chapter will host its annual Sporting Clays Tournament at the American Shooting Centers on Sunday, April 6 at 2:30 p.m. Shooters will be divided into teams for the competition and will shoot 50 targets throughout the course. Food and drinks will be served as the competition and raffle winners are announced. All experience levels are welcome! Check out @stewardsofthewild_houston for more info. |
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Sausage Showdown | San Antonio | April 6 The 7th Annual San Antonio Chapter Wild Game Sausage Showdown will be held on April 6 at Beethoven Männerchor. It will feature a wild game sausage competition among Texas game processors, a raffle, cold drinks, and live music. Proceeds from this event will benefit City Kids Adventures. Use the link below for more information and to purchase tickets! |
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Statewide Conservation Committee Virtual Lunch & Learn | April 17 The SCC will host its second virtual Lunch & Learn Thursday, April 17 from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The Lunch & Learn will feature Jay Kleberg, Executive Director of the Gulf Trust and Director and Producer of PBS special Chasing the Tide. Jay will discuss the current state of the Gulf Coast and the Gulf Trust's Trash Free Gulf Campaign that will occur in May. Use the link below to register! |
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Annual Rivertree Academy Fishing Extravaganza | Fort Worth | May 2 On Friday, May 2 the Fort Worth Chapter will host students from the local Rivertree Academy at a beautiful ranch just outside of town and teach them how to fish! If you're interested in volunteering, please contact fortworth@stewardsofthewild.org. |
Little Brazos River Cleanup | BCS | May 3 On Saturday, May 3 the BCS Chapter will participate in a river cleanup as part of Gulf Trust's Trash Free Gulf initiative! Members will meet where the Little Brazos River flows under HWY 21. Stay tuned to @stewardsofthewild_BCS for more details. |
Fly Fishing Clinic | Houston | May 13 On Tuesday, May 13 the Houston Chapter will host a Fly Fishing Clinic at Bayou City Angler! Stay tuned to @stewardsofthewild_houston for details. |
Lady Bird Lake Cleanup | Austin | May 17 The Austin Chapter will partner with Colorado River Alliance (CRA) for a Lady Bird Lake Cleanup as part of Gulf Trust's Trash Free Gulf initiative. Stewards will participate in a paddleboard cleanup at Mozart's Coffee Roasters. Stay tuned to @stewardsofthewild_austin for more details. |
Introduction to River Kayaking | BCS | May 17 Combat Kayak will lead the BCS Chapter in an Introduction to Kayaking Course on the San Marcos River on May 17. Learn river terminology, safety, rescues, strokes, catching eddies, peeling out, ferrying, and more! |
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"Bring Your Tackle Box" Happy Hour | Houston | June 10 Houston will host an interactive "Bring Your Tackle Box" Happy Hour at Pinkerton's BBQ on Tuesday, June 10! Stay tuned to @stewardsofthewild_houston for details. |
Matagorda Fishing Tournament | Statewide | June 28 Save the date for our Statewide Matagorda Fishing Tournament, hosted by the Houston Chapter but open to all SOTW members! This awesome event will take place on Saturday, June 28. Stay tuned to @stewardsofthewildtx for more details! |
Annual All-Stewards Dove Hunt | September 5-6 Save the date for the Annual All-Stewards Dove Hunt on Sept. 5-6 in Albany. Stay tuned to @stewardsofthewildtx for details later this year! |
Statewide Conservation Committee West Texas Trip | October 9-12 The SOTW Statewide Conservation Committee (SCC) is headed back to the Caldwell Ranch in far West Texas on Oct. 9-12. This trip is open to committee members as well as SOTW members. Stay tuned to @stewardsofthewildtx - details on this incredible adventure will be released soon! |
BBQ Happy Hour | Houston | Every Second Tuesday Join the Houston Chapter for a happy hour on the second Tuesday of every month at Pinkerton's BBQ at 6:30 p.m. Meet fellow Stewards of the Wild members, hear updates from the Houston leadership, and enjoy some great BBQ. |
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Stewards of the Wild Highlights & News |
Meet SOTW Member and TPWF Board Fellow Jonathan Worbington
For Jonathan Worbington, the Texas outdoors has always been more than just a backdrop—it’s been a way of life. Growing up in McAllen as one of three children, he found solace and adventure in the outdoors, thanks to his father and family friends who introduced him to hunting and conservation at an early age.
“Getting out to hunt and fish with my dad was a way for us to bond as father and son—and escape the house full of women,” Jonathan laughs. Though his family didn’t own land, like many in South Texas, they joined a deer lease, where Jonathan learned about wildlife management and conservation firsthand. Those early experiences left a lasting impression.
“Ever since, I’ve been really passionate about being outside—whether it’s hunting, fishing, or just enjoying the outdoors.”
That passion carried through his college years at the University of Texas, where he took on leadership roles in conservation organizations, including serving as chairman of UT’s Ducks Unlimited chapter. Even as he pursued a law degree and built a career in the energy industry, his commitment to conservation never wavered. It was this steadfast dedication that led him to Stewards of the Wild, a program of Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation (TPWF) designed to cultivate Texas’ next generation of conservation leaders. |
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Jonathan stumbled upon Stewards in its early years through a social media post and decided to attend a Houston Chapter event.
“It was completely random,” he admits. “But when I got there, I realized it was all like-minded people who shared my passion for the outdoors.”
He quickly became an integral part of the organization, rising through the ranks as an advisory council member and eventually serving as co-chair of the Houston Chapter. Along the way, his wife, Bobbi, joined him in the mission, and together they helped introduce friends and colleagues to the Stewards community.
For Jonathan, Stewards has been about more than just social gatherings and networking. It has provided an opportunity to connect people to the outdoors in meaningful ways.
“We’ve hosted fishing trips, sporting clays, duck hunts, and dove hunts,” he says. “The most rewarding part is seeing first-time hunters come out and experience it. It’s about passing down that legacy.” |
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Mentored Fishing Trip at Powderhorn Recap
This season, we moved our annual Mentored Fishing Trip at Powderhorn from the fall to the spring. We lucked out: the weather was perfect, and the fishing was great! A fast and furious weekend, mentees arrived Friday afternoon at the beautiful 17,000 acre tract that is the Powderhorn WMA and future state park. On the drive to the campsite, participants saw white-tailed deer, hawks, alligators, exotic sambar and axis deer, and more wildlife. After setting up their tents and getting acquainted with the original 1941 lodge right on the water, mentees worked with their mentors to learn fishing knot tying, spinning-rod casting, and fish identification. Friday evening, special guest Pat Murray, CCA National president and life-long angler, provided participants with an informative, motivating pep talk and advice to live by while fishing. Powderhorn State Park Superintendent Sarah Affeldt then gave the participants a riveting Powderhorn history lesson. Thanks to Pat and Sarah, staying humble was the theme of the weekend. |
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Saturday morning the dew was heavy, and the fog was thick, but that didn’t prevent mentees on both boats in the bay and kayaks in Powderhorn Lake from catching flounder, red drum, and black drum. As the sun rose and the fog cleared, the bites slowed but spirits stayed high. Mentees continued to catch fish here and there throughout the afternoon and evening. Before dinner, mentors provided the mentees with a cleaning demonstration and chance to practice filleting fish they kept that day. Saturday evening dinner was fish served four ways: pan seared, baked, fried, and grilled over an open fire! |
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Ultimately, our ten mentees departed on Sunday with a new appreciation for the conservation of our wild things and wild places, and a better understanding of angling, particularly on the Texas Coast! If you’re a new or novice angler, don’t miss this trip next spring!
Thank you to Dagon, Fish Texas, TPWD staff, and our fearless mentors for supporting our mentored fishing initiative and making what we do possible! |
Dallas Chapter Donates $20,000 to Bighorn Sheep Restoration |
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The Dallas Chapter leadership decided to dedicate $20,000 of the funds raised at last November’s State of Conservation Dinner to TPWF's Desert Bighorn Sheep Restoration initiative! The chapter sought to bring awareness of this TPWF initiative to its members at an event at the Yeti Dallas store last week. At the event, members heard from Dr. Louis Harveson, Founder and Director of the Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) in Alpine. He explored the history of the desert bighorn sheep, past conservation efforts of the species, and how BRI, TPWF, and conservation partners are working together to restore the desert bighorn sheep population in Texas. BRI has done critical research to help experts and the public alike better understand the factors impacting the desert bighorn sheep. Thank you to the Dallas Chapter for supporting TPWF initiatives and providing opportunities for its members to learn more about those initiatives and how to get involved!
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Join us on Sunday, April 6, from 2-6 p.m. at Beethoven Männerchor in San Antonio for the 7th Annual Wild Game Sausage Showdown hosted by the San Antonio Chapter! Event proceeds will benefit City Kids Adventures, a local San Antonio non-profit providing inner-city kids with meaningful outdoor recreational opportunities, education, and service projects to expand their horizons beyond their neighborhoods.
The Wild Game Sausage Showdown is a free event with live music and games, open to everyone, and family-friendly! To participate in the wild game tastings and to vote for the best local processors, a ticket is required ($20 for adults, $10 for kids 14-17). The San Antonio Chapter will also open an awesome online raffle supporting the cause ahead of April 6 and announce winners at the event! |
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Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation Updates |
TPWF Partner: Gulf Trust
Our enduring Gulf means so much to so many. This multinational treasure of the Atlantic, rich with cultural significance, sea life, and coastal resources, is a magnet for marine life, communities, global industry, and tourism.
The Texas Coast alone stretches nearly 370 miles, with important bays and estuaries where fresh and saltwater meet to support the life cycles and food webs of the Gulf’s fish and wildlife. With population and industry booming along our coast, and the impact of storms and extreme weather events, more attention must be directed to the region to ensure a sustainable future for people, fish, wildlife, and habitats. |
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This was the impetus behind the creation of the Gulf Trust in 2023, and TPWF is incubating the new organization. Through an innovative partnership with Harte Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and relevant stakeholders, Gulf Trust is committed to promoting long-term, research-based solutions to the Gulf’s most pressing challenges. Led by Executive Director Jay Kleberg and a deeply committed board of directors, Gulf Trust brings together scientists, businesspeople, public policymakers, philanthropic concerns, non-governmental organizations, and communities to develop and implement Gulf strategies and solutions that work for industry, the environment, and communities in Texas and the region. “Texas is a coastal state, not just a state with a coast, and we have an outsized impact on the health of the Gulf,” says Kleberg. “At the Trust, we believe that, equipped with sound research, a measured approach, and the right partners, we can turn complex challenges into rewarding opportunities." |
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Update on the TPWD Sharelunker Program
As another Toyota ShareLunker Legacy Lunker season draws to a close, this longstanding program and tradition, now in its 39th season, continues to lure anglers from Texas and across the U.S. to Texas lakes in search of landing a Legacy Class largemouth bass of 13 pounds or more.
During the first three months of the Legacy Lunker season (Jan. 1 through March 31), anglers who reel in a Legacy Lunker can loan it to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) for the ShareLunker selective breeding and stocking program at the Edwin L. Cox, Jr. Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center (TFFC) in Athens. TFFC’s hatchery has been home to the Toyota ShareLunker program since it opened in 1996. Here giant bass loaned through the program are bred with the male offspring from previous seasons, taking full advantage of big bass genetics, and restocked in public Texas lakes. |
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Though TFFC is currently closed to the public as TPWF manages its multi-million-dollar renovation, its fish hatchery, Toyota ShareLunker program, and other vital statewide programs continue to operate. Set to reopen this summer, the renovation includes refurbishing the popular Dive Theater and its 25,000-gallon dive tank, renovating four large outdoor aquaria exhibits, installing four new outdoor fisheries tanks, and enhancing the indoor exhibits and overall visitor experience. TFFC is also adding an aquarium just for ShareLunkers to offer rising generations of aspiring anglers a glimpse of Texas’ biggest bass and a big dose of inspiration for their future fishing adventures.
In addition to the Toyota ShareLunker program, Toyota has also been a longtime sponsor of the Lone Star Land Steward Awards, Neighborhood Fishin’, Texas Outdoor Family, Texas Junior Ranger, Texas National Archery in Schools, Texas State Park Guide and Mobile App, Great Texas Birding Classic, and more, providing vital community support and championing time-honored traditions that celebrate and conserve the lands, waters, and wildlife we all enjoy. |
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What else has TPWF been up to?
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Want more? Check out these interesting articles and resources:
Watch Lead it Go: Lead it Go follows hunter and conservationist (President & CEO of The Peregrine Fund) Chris Parish’s mission to prevent unintentional lead poisoning in wildlife. For more than two decades, Chris has channeled his efforts into recovering raptors and researching reasons for their decline. Through research conducted at The Peregrine Fund, Chris helped discover that lead fragments from bullets in the remains of shot animals left afield are often accidentally eaten by eagles, condors, and other scavengers.
As a lifelong hunter who’s proud of the role that hunters have played in conservation, Chris co-founded the North American Non-Lead Partnership which works with hunters to voluntarily remove lead from the food chain. His efforts have shown hunters' willingness to participate at the local level, and he is now attempting to spread this message to the broader hunting community. Told through a deer hunt with friend Ben Masters, the 30-minute film aims to showcase hunters taking the lead on an important issue, thus continuing the hunter’s tradition of conservation.
Lead It Go is produced by Fin & Fur Films and premiered on February 23, 2025 at the Colorado Environmental Film Festival and on The Peregrine Fund’s YouTube channel.
More interesting articles and Resources:
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Thank you to our statewide program sponsor! |
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The Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Kingsville is the leading wildlife research organization in Texas and one of the finest in the nation. Its mission is to provide science-based information for enhancing the conservation and management of wildlife in South Texas and related environments.
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Stewards of the Wild, Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation’s conservation leadership program, equips emerging leaders aged 21 to 45 with opportunities to actively participate in the stewardship of Texas’ wild things and wild places by providing education, networking, and outdoor experiences.
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Copyright © 2025 Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is: Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation 6220 Gaston Ave. #700 Dallas, Texas 75214 |
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