About Us

The American Conservation Foundation (ACF) believes in the need to conserve and manage natural resources with a practical approach to engagement with private landowners and the business community.

ACF is driven by a deep commitment to protecting and managing natural resources while fostering collaborative solutions that benefit both the environment and local communities. By bridging the gap between conservation, private landowners, and industry, ACF ensures that sustainability efforts are practical, impactful, and forward-thinking.

Our approach balances environmental stewardship with real-world needs, creating innovative conservation projects that preserve ecosystems, support landowners, and promote responsible business practices.

Our Mission

ACF is a Texas based non-profit corporation. The purpose of American Conservation Foundation (ACF) is to contribute to the conservation of native ecosystems in a manner that incentivizes participation by private landowners and promotes economic development. ACF understands the importance of balancing these interests. Our mission is to investigate, implement, and promote conservation strategies that are science-based, responsible, grounded in common sense, and durable for the benefit of species and habitat.

Meet Our Executive Board

Our dedicated team at American Conservation Foundation is committed to providing exceptional service and expertise to our supporters and partners.

President & Treasurer

Russell Castro

Russell Castro.....

Secretary

Shawn Wade

Shawn Wade serves as the Director of Policy Analysis and Research at Plains Cotton Growers, Inc., an advocate for cotton producers across the High Plains region. His primary responsibilities at PCG include farm policy, crop insurance, and research.

A Lubbock native, Shawn came to PCG in 1991 as Communications Director after graduating from Texas Tech University with a degree in agricultural communications. In his twenty-five-plus years at PCG, Shawn developed a keen interest in legislative and regulatory issues through his work in communications. He monitors how current legislative programs are working once they’re passed and helps PCG members understand how they work and how proposed changes to those programs might impact them at the farm level.

Shawn also works closely with cotton researchers, helping to guide and advise on new projects that address key industry needs through programs such as the Plains Cotton Improvement Program and the Cotton Incorporated State Support Program.

Shawn and his wife, Melissa, live in Lubbock, Texas with their two daughters.

Board Member

Gary Austin

Gary Austin retired in 2022 after 48 years in the energy development and production business. Most recently, he was a cofounder and partner of EcoPoint, an innovative geospatial firm providing environmental services.

Gary began working in environmental restoration and habitat planning in the early days of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska working to protect and restore the fragile tundra on the North Slope. Gary served as a technical advisor on a wide range of environmental issues including threatened and endangered species. He has a long history in the environmental field working in exploration, development and production with the oil and gas industry and in planning and operations in the mining industry.

Gary holds a BA in Biology/Botany and an MS in Environmental Science. Gary has worked with academia, government agencies, trade associations, public land users, private corporations and landowners, to develop and implement innovative strategies for managing industrial surface disturbance on public and private lands.

Gary has been happily married for over a half century to his wife Colleen. His family includes four sons and seven grandchildren. He enjoys the outdoors and is frequently found on horseback on the family ranch in Eastern Colorado.

Board Member

Richard Brantley

Richard Brantley retired from University Lands after 25 years of dedicated service, culminating is his role as Senior Vice President of Surface Operations for the past decade. He proudly serves on the Board of American Conservation Foundation, continuing his commitment to land stewardship and environmental sustainability.

University Lands, a division of the University of Texas System, oversees the management of 2.1 million acres of Permanent University Fund (PUF) lands across 19 counties in West Texas. Revenue generated from these lands supports 28 educational and healthcare institutions within both the University of Texas System and Texas A&M System.

The management of PUF lands demands a continuous focus on conservation, environmental programs, and regulatory compliance. Richard's extensive expertise in land and environmental management, coupled with his deep experience in the oil and gas industry, has played a pivotal role in shaping best practices for responsible land use and long-term sustainability.

Richard earned his bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry from West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas. With a career spanning over three decades in land management, he has made significant contributions to the industry and holds two patents.

Board Member

Gene Richardson

Gene Richardson served as President and Treasurer of ACF from 2020 - March 2025.

Gene retired after 24 years with the Texas Farm Bureau where he served as the Director of the Commodity and Regulatory Activities Division. In this role, Gene was responsible for a variety of resource and agricultural issues, including citrus, feral hog, forestry, hay and forage, nursery and greenhouse, wildlife, game ranch and outdoor recreation. Gene has extensive experience in handling regulatory issues dealing with the Endangered Species Act and its impact on landowners and transportation.

Prior to this position, Gene served as an associate director for Commodity and Regulatory Activities Division and as an area field representative for the Texas Farm Bureau.

A native of the Lubbock area, Gene attended Texas Tech University and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture, Business and Economics from West Texas State University at Canyon. He was employed as district sales manager for Mycogen Plant Sciences.

Gene farmed and ranched in Hudspeth County, where he was a county Farm Bureau director. He and his wife, Cristy, now live in Waco, Texas. Together they have three daughters, share a step son and have sixteen grandchildren.