Powell Families Honored as Conservationists of the Year at San Angelo Gala

The gala brought together community members to recognize the Powell families’ contributions to preserving the natural resources and wildlife in the region.

“The Powell, Mertz and Bean families have ranched in West Texas for over 100 years, and in doing so have exemplified conservation and land stewardship for the livestock and wildlife that call their pastures home,” said TWAF President Alan Curry. 

Proceeds from the gala will support the San Angelo Area Conservation Education Initiative, a new program set to launch this fall.

The initiative will fund a full-time conservation education specialist focused on educating San Angelo area students about the importance of Texas natural resources and the role of private land stewardship in their preservation.

The program will also include adult education on stewardship concepts related to land, water, and wildlife.

"Recognizing that the conservation of our natural resources and preserving important local cultures are among the greatest challenges facing societies—globally, nationally, and regionally—the San Angelo Area Conservation Education Initiative was fledged in 2024 to address these challenges at a community level in the San Angelo and surrounding areas," information states. "The centerpiece of this initiative is the San Angelo Area Conservationist of the Year Gala which shines the light on the integral role that private lands stewardship and community investment play in addressing these challenges.

"Through recognizing an individual or family as the 'Conservationist of the Year,' this celebration helps inspire future success of the SAAC-ED Initiative," the information read. "Funds raised through the gala and through the broad initiative support a full-time conservation education specialist that is administered through Texas Wildlife Association." 

All monies raised through this initiative are dedicated to local use, benefiting San Angelo and surrounding areas.

“Conservation of our natural resources and preserving important local cultures are among the greatest challenges facing societies – globally, nationally and right here in our backyard," said Greg Simons, TWAF trustee. "Addressing these challenges, effectively, must fundamentally begin through education. We look forward to applying a proven and highly successful education model that the Texas Wildlife Association has been deploying in other areas of Texas and fine-tuning those efforts to uniquely fit the people and communities of our San Angelo area.”