TFRLCP Council Members

The Honorable Paul L. Foster
Council Chairman, Commissioner
Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission

Paul L. Foster was appointed to the Commission by Governor Greg Abbott on April 14, 2021 to a six-year term which will expire on February 1, 2027. On June 3, 2025, he was appointed by Governor Greg Abbott as Chairman of the Commission. Mr. Paul L. Foster of El Paso is the Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and a Director of Franklin Mountain Investments, LLC (FMI). FMl's affiliates include Franklin Mountain Capital, Franklin Mountain Energy, Franklin Mountain Industrial, and Franklin Mountain Property Services. He is a former director of the National Petroleum Refiners Association and the Western Petroleum Marketers Association. Mr. Foster is former chairman of The University of Texas Investment Management Company (UTIMCO) and served as Chairman of the University of Texas System Board of Regents. Additionally, he served on the University of Texas System University Lands Advisory Board, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the Texas Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors, and the El Paso Branch of the Dallas Federal Reserve Bank. He is a member of the board of the Baylor College of Medicine, serves on the Borderplex Alliance Executive Committee, and is a member of the World Presidents Organization. He is a Director of WestStar Bank in El Paso. Mr. Foster received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Baylor University.

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 Kendria Ray
Executive Director
Texas State Soil & Water Conservation Board

Prior to taking the Executive Director position, Ray served more than 25 years as the Coordinator for Field Operations, where she provided leadership and support to field staff and worked directly with SWCDs across the state to deliver conservation programs at the local level. In this role, she helped guide the implementation of key initiatives, foster collaboration between local, state, and federal partners, and ensure that conservation efforts are both effective and responsive to the needs of Texas landowners.

Under her direction, TSSWCB will continue to advance programs that address critical natural resource concerns, strengthen partnerships, and support the long-term sustainability of Texas agriculture and rural communities.

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 Koehler Denbow
Ranch/Landowner
Bosque County

Natalie Koehler Denbow is a 1999 graduate of Texas A&M University and is a Class Agent for her class in the Association of Former Students. She is a 2002 graduate of South Texas College of Law. A past elected County Attorney in Bosque County, she served in this role from 2009-2024. In law school, Natalie was a member of the South Texas Law Review and received accolades in their award winning Moot Court program. She was also named the Top Female Graduate of the Class of 2002 and received the award for Young Alumni of the Year in 2012. In 2011-12, Natalie served as the President of the Texas Young Lawyers Association and is currently on the State Bar of Texas Board of Directors. Other boards Natalie has served on include the Texas District and County Attorneys Association, the Texas Bar College, the Texas Association of Counties, and the Texas Bar Foundation. In addition to her statewide involvement, Natalie is active in her local community, serving as the Immediate Past President of the Bosque County Museum. She and her husband, Blake, have three children and reside on the family ranch in Cranfills Gap. They are active members of the First Baptist Church.

The Honorable Andrew C. Polk
Sr. Vice President
Angelina Savings Bank

Andrew Polk is a native of Lufkin, graduating from Texas A&M University. He also received a certification in Ranch Management from Texas Christian University. Andrew is passionate about agriculture, being a steward of the land, and working with people to achieve their financial needs.

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 Lindsey Gohlke
Security Bank of Texas

Lindsey Gohlke is a community banker and fourth-generation farmer rooted in Central Texas agriculture. A graduate of Texas A&M University in 2017, she specializes in serving the financial needs of rural individuals. Alongside her husband, Lindsey's family operates a row crop farm in the McLennan and Coryell County areas, giving her firsthand insight into the challenges and opportunities within agriculture. This dual role allows her to provide practical, relationship-focused banking solutions tailored to rural communities. She is an active member of the Texas Farm Bureau and remains committed to supporting and sustaining Texas agriculture.