TFRLCP Council Members

The Honorable Jeffery D. Hildebrand
Council Chairman, Commissioner
Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission

Jeffery D. Hildebrand was appointed to the Commission by Governor Greg Abbott on August 6, 2019 for a term that will expire February 1, 2025. On August 31, 2023, he was appointed by Governor Greg Abbott as Chairman of the Commission. Mr. Hildebrand is the Executive Chairman and Founder of Hilcorp Energy Company. Prior to founding Hilcorp in 1989, Mr. Hildebrand was with Exxon Company, U.S.A, the Dan A. Hughes Company, and American Energy Capital Corporation. He earned a Master of Science in petroleum engineering (1985) and a Bachelor of Science in geology (1981), both from The University of Texas at Austin, where he was a member of Pi Epsilon Tau, Petroleum Engineering's Honor Society.

Mr. Hildebrand serves on the boards of Central Houston, Inc., the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Houston Police Foundation, Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy, and The University of Texas Investment Management Company. He served a six year term on The University of Texas Systems Board of Regents. He is a past board member of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, the Greater Houston Community Foundation, Pin Oak Charity Horse Show, and Star of Hope Mission.

The Honorable L'Oreal Stepney
Chairman
Texas Water Development Board

L'Oreal Stepney was named Chairwoman of the Texas Water Development Board by Governor Greg Abbott on January 8, 2025. Governor Abbott appointed her to the Board in December 2022 for a term beginning January 1, 2023. Stepney previously served as the deputy executive director of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). She is a board member for the Mickey Leland Environmental Internship Program and a graduate of the University of Texas Governor's Center Executive Management Program and the University of Texas Center for Public Policy Dispute Resolution Fellows Program. Stepney received a Bachelor of Science in aerospace engineering and a Master of Science in civil engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.

The Honorable Rex Isom
Executive Director
Texas State Soil & Water Conservation Board

Rex Isom is a 1979 graduate of Texas Tech University. Following graduation Mr. Isom was in Commercial and Real Estate lending. In 1987, he accepted the position as South Plains Field Representative with the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board (TSSWCB); and, on January 15, 2004, the TSSWCB selected him to lead the agency as its Executive Director. As Executive Director, Rex Isom is responsible for coordinating the programs and activities of Texas' 216 soil and water conservation districts along with conducting the state's agricultural and silvicultural nonpoint source pollution abatement program. In addition, he oversees other aspects of the agency's programs that deal with the conservation and wise use of the state's natural resources. Mr. Isom and his wife Nancy, reside in Idalou, Texas, where both continue to be very active with Texas Tech University and in local community activities. The Isom family is a long time resident of Idalou and has been involved in agricultural production since the early 1900's.

The Honorable Roel Lopez
Executive Director
TAMU Institute of Renewable Resources

Dr. Roel Lopez obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry from Stephen F. Austin State University in 1993. He then went on to complete a Master of Science (1996) and a Ph.D. (2001) in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from Texas A&M University. He began his career as a wildlife biologist and research ecologist before finding a passion for teaching as a professor at Texas A&M University. He has obtained numerous honors and awards throughout his career including Montague Center for Teaching Excellence Scholar, The Wildlife Society Outstanding Scientific Publication Award, TAMU Vice Chancellor's Award in Excellence-Diversity Award, among others. In 2013, Dr. Lopez was named Director for Texas A&M Institute of Renewable Natural Resources, where he provides leadership in the field of wildlife management, military sustainability and natural resource management. This position allows him to collaborate with internal and external stakeholders in developing priorities for research and extension programs, develops inter-disciplinary teams for addressing these high priority issues and supports the institutes' efforts with military interests in support of sustainable ranges initiatives. He is based out of the institutes' San Antonio office.

The Honorable Sid Miller
Commissioner
Texas Department of Agriculture

Sid Miller is a former vocational agriculture teacher, and a world champion cowboy who just won his 9th world title. Mr. Miller served as the Chairman of the Texas House Agriculture and Livestock Committee which oversees the Texas Department of Agriculture. Because of his extensive knowledge and work in agriculture, Mr. Miller was chosen to work directly with the Texas Agriculture Commissioner as a member of the Agriculture Policy Board. He is a lifetime member of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and a former Farm Bureau Director. He was chosen by his colleagues to serve as Chairman of the House Republican Caucus and was named by the independent Rice University Study as “one of tope three most conservative members of the Texas House.” Mr. Miller has been endorsed for Agriculture Commissioner by Conservative Republicans of Texas and the YOUNG Conservative of Texas.

The Honorable Kristy Oates
State Conservationist
USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service

Kristy began her career with USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in 1995 as a Soil Conservation Technician in Freestone County, Texas after being raised on a beef and cropland operation in central Texas. During her 25 years of service, Kristy has been promoted through multiple technical, supervisory, and leadership positions in Texas. Detail assignments in multiple states have given her valuable experience working with producers who have varied agricultural systems. Further, her assignments included executive level positions of Acting Division Director of Conservation Planning and Technical Assistance Division in Washington DC, as well as, Acting State Conservationist in Iowa and Minnesota. Most recently, Kristy served as the State Resource Conservationist in Texas where she led the ecological sciences department in addressing natural resource concerns through sound conservation planning, technical leadership in quality assurance, policy development and implementation, and training oversight. Kristy served as the co-chair for the National Conservation Planning Partnership, Training, Certification, Technical Processes and Tools Committee advancing conservation planner certification across the nation. She fostered new opportunities to increase streamlining and efficiencies in landscape initiatives such as the National Water Quality Initiative and Working Lands for Wildlife Conservation Strategies. Her leadership created a combined leveraging of federal, state, local, and private resources to maximize the impact of implementing conservation across the landscape. Kristy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture from Sam Houston State University and she is a graduate of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Emerging Leaders Development Program from The George Washington University Center for Excellence in Public Leadership. Outside of work, Kristy enjoys spending time with her family enjoying the great outdoors and traveling to new destinations.

The Honorable Romey Swanson
Land Trust Representative
Audubon Texas

Romey Swanson of Austin is the Director of Conservation Strategy for Audubon Texas. He is chair of the Southwestern Section Conservation Affairs Committee for The Wildlife Society and president-elect of The Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society. Additionally, he is a member of the Texas Ornithological Society, Texas Herpetology Society, Hill Country Conservancy Land Committee, Rio Grande Joint Venture Management Committee, Oaks and Prairies Joint Venture Management Committee, and the Lower Colorado River Basin Coalition Executive Committee. Swanson received a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Biology and a Master of Science in Wildlife Ecology from Texas State University.

The Honorable Leslie L.W. Kinsel
Kinsel Cattle Company

Leslie Kinsel is an attorney and third-generation rancher in La Salle and surrounding counties. She and her husband manage Kinsel Cattle Company, and she is a co-owner of Runnells Peters Feedyard in Eagle Pass, Bar V Cattle Co. in McLennan County, and Dan Kinsel Ranch Broker LLC. Mrs. Kinsel is a member of the Texas Cattle Feeders Association, Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, American Quarter Horse Association and South Texas CattleWomen. She has volunteered her time with the La Salle County Fair Association, Texas High School Rodeo Association, La Salle County 4-H, Texas Youth Rodeo Association, La Salle Youth Rodeo Association and Alamo Area Christian Educators. Mrs. Kinsel has served as a gubernatorial appointee to the Nueces River Authority. Mrs. Kinsel attended Texas A&M University, received an economics degree from Texas State University, and earned her law degree from the University of Texas.

The Honorable Natalie Cobb Koehler
County Attorney
Bosque County

Natalie Cobb Koehler is a 1999 graduate of Texas A&M University and a 2002 graduate of South Texas College of Law in Houston, Texas. She is the current elected Bosque County Attorney, prosecuting all misdemeanors, Child Protective Services cases and Protective Orders for victims of domestic violence. She has held this office since 2009. While in law school Natalie was an active member of the South Texas Law Review and a participant in the school’s nationally recognized moot court program. Throughout her time with the program Natalie received accolades such as: Top Speaker, Top Team, and best brief. In addition to her statewide involvement, Natalie is very active in her local community. She has also served as a Texas A&M “Aggies in Agriculture Mentor” and is a current member of the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo “Vine 2 Wine Committee”. Natalie is also a proud sponsor of the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo Calf Scramble. In her spare time Natalie enjoys traveling, cooking and volunteering at Camp John Marc, a camp for special needs children. She is proud to be very involved in her children’s life, especially helping them show their livestock and compete in Ranch Sorting National Championship events. Natalie is the founder and creator of “Spirit: Christian Girls’ Retreat”, a non-profit, two day conference, that helps teens develop leadership skills, self-confidence and battle online bullying. She and her husband, Blake, reside on the family ranch in Cranfills Gap and are members of the First Baptist Church where they lead classes for junior high boys and girls at Gap Youth Connection on Wednesday nights.

Awaiting Appointee

The Texas Farm and Ranch Lands Conservation program is currently awaiting a new Governor appointee for one of the two Farm or Ranch Council member positions.

The Honorable Russell Boening
Texas Farm Bureau

Russell Boening is a full-time farmer and rancher from Wilson County. The fourth-generation farmer was elected president of Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) and Affiliated Companies in December 2014. He was first elected to the TFB board of directors in December 2008 and became secretary-treasurer in December 2011. He was elected to the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) board of directors in 2015. He currently serves on the AFBF executive committee. Boening is a 1981 graduate of Texas A&M University with a degree in Agricultural Economics. Boening served as president of the Poth ISD school board and is a member of Dairy Farmers of America. Boening has held every office on the Wilson County Farm Bureau board, serving for more than 30 years, including president for five years.

The Honorable Abby Frank
Branch Manager
Texas Farm Credit

A seven-year veteran of the lending cooperative, Frank has worked as a loan officer in the Brenham office since 2011. Prior to joining Texas Farm Credit, she was a loan officer for First National Bank of Bellville for five years. An Austin County native, Frank received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in finance from Texas State University and earned an MBA from Texas Tech University. Frank serves on the Austin County Go Texan Committee, is a director of Texas Land Brokers Network, and is an active member of the South Central Board of Realtors and numerous other local organizations. She and her family reside in Kenney, where she enjoys spending time with her two sons.