Houston Daily

Governor Greg Abbott has appointed James Clement III and reappointed Tina Yturria Buford to positions on the State Soil and Water Conservation Board. Their terms will expire on February 1, 2027, and February 1, 2026, respectively. The Board is responsible for overseeing Texas' soil and water conservation law, as well as managing conservation and pollution abatement initiatives across the state.

James Clement III, hailing from Kingsville, holds the role of senior vice president of Grass and Rangeland at EarthOptics and contributes his expertise as a director for several organizations including Ranchbot Monitoring Solutions, Frontiers Market, and Beggs Cattle Company. He is actively involved with the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, in addition to the American Quarter Horse Association and other bodies focused on natural resources and wildlife. Clement brings his experience as a Marine Corps Infantry Officer to his conservation efforts, utilizing his education from Goucher College and Cornell University.

Tina Yturria Buford from Harlingen is engaged as the director of education at the East Foundation and collaborates with her family business, the H. Yturria Land and Cattle Company. Her experience includes directorship at Texan by Nature and previous leadership roles with the Texas Wildlife Association and its foundation. Buford is equipped with a bachelor’s degree in Rangeland Ecology and Management from Texas A&M University, along with a ranch management certificate from Texas Christian University.

The appointments of Clement and Buford are contingent upon confirmation by the Senate.