Congratulations to our 2026 Harvey Weil Honorees!
Conservationist of the Year – Mary & Mike Terry
Mary and Mike Terry’s commitment to conservation is rooted in faith, family, and a shared belief that excellence is both a pursuit and a responsibility. Owners of MT7 Ranch in Stephens County, the Terrys have transformed their 14,000–acre property into a living laboratory for applied conservation where data, stewardship, and devotion come together to create lasting change for Texas wildlife and rangelands. Guided by the principle, “To whom much is given, much is required,” they have dedicated their lives to giving back through education, research, and hands–on habitat restoration.
Advancing ethical land stewardship practices goes back generations in the Terry family. Mary’s great grandfather, Colonel C.C. Slaughter, known as the “Cattle King of Texas,” began ranching with his father in Palo Pinto County in the 1850s. A founder of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, C.C. Slaughter pioneered cattle breeding practices that elevated the standards of sustainable ranching for decades. The Terrys’ longstanding family values of innovation, faith, hard work, and commitment to people and place inspires them to carry land stewardship practices forward; to teach the next generation to recognize the beauty of God’s creation and cultivate it.
From day one, MT7 Ranch has been an open classroom, inviting thousands of local Breckenridge ISD 5th graders to field days, where many catch their first fish or see their first cow up close. The ranch regularly hosts researchers from Texas Parks and Wildlife, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, and Louisiana State University as well as students from collegiate land management programs across the country. Among those are graduate students from Texas A&M–Kingsville University’s Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, where the Terry Family Endowed a Fellowship for Habitat Research. Aiming to grow the next generation of conservation leaders, MT7 Ranch has employed more than 100 college interns, studying wildlife biology, ranch management, or agribusiness careers, where over 70% are now active industry professionals.
The Rotary Club of Corpus Christi proudly celebrates Mary and Mike Terry as the 2026 Conservationists of the Year Award winners, honoring their leadership, generosity, and unwavering dedication to preserving Texas’s natural heritage for generations to come.
Professional Conservationist of the Year – Caroline Cage
For more than twenty years, Caroline Cage has devoted her career to strengthening the connection between people and the land they love. Her work has helped connect scientists, land stewards, and donors in a shared mission to protect Texas’ natural heritage.
A native of San Antonio, Caroline grew up exploring her family’s Hill Country ranch, where her grandmother first taught her to appreciate nature and the life it sustains. After earning her degree in communications from Texas Tech University, Caroline began her conservation career with the Texas Wildlife Association, later serving as Director of Development for the Texas Wildlife Association Foundation. Over fifteen years with the organization, she raised millions in support of programs like Conservation Legacy, the Texas Youth Hunting Program and Texas Brigades—initiatives that have shaped generations of young conservationists across the state.
In 2020, Caroline joined the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A&M University–Kingsville as Director of Donor Relations. There, she continues to champion conservation through fundraising efforts that connect donors to research and fieldwork they care deeply about. One of her current initiatives includes supporting CKWRI’s Ocelot Conservation Facility in Kingsville.
A passionate hunter and angler, Caroline’s dedication to conservation is both personal and professional. Her enduring efforts to connect donors, scientists, and land stewards have advanced the mission of wildlife research in South Texas and beyond. Her career reflects a deep belief that when people are inspired to give, lasting conservation follows, making her a deserving recipient of the 2026 Professional Conservationist of the Year Award.
Living Legacy – Clemente Guzman
For nearly three decades, Clemente F. Guzman III brought the beauty and energy of Texas wildlife to life as the staff artist for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. From 1988 to 2017, his paintings captured the essence of the land and the spirit of the outdoors, inspiring countless Texans to see conservation not just as science, but as something to feel and protect.
Clemente’s work can be found across the state and beyond, from the well-known Conservation License Plate series and 33 collectible game stamps to posters, magazine covers and book illustrations. His art has appeared in Viva Texas Rivers!, The Art of Texas State Parks and Hummingbirds of Texas among many others. He was named the Texas State Parks Centennial Artist in 2023 and recognized by the Texas Senate for his creative contributions to education and conservation.
Outside the studio, Clemente continues to live his passion through teaching by example. With his wife Gabriela, he restored native habitat at their Yanawana Camp RV Park in San Antonio, creating a haven for birds and wildlife. They are now working with Texas Parks and Wildlife biologists on a wildlife management plan for their Moctezuma Ranch near Brackettville.
Rooted in his Lipan Apache, Coahuiltecan and Spanish heritage, Clemente’s art reflects a deep respect for the natural world and the stories that connect people to place. His life’s work reminds us that creativity can be one of the most powerful tools for conservation.
