Laura Bush
A Texan by Nature: The former first lady’s love of the outdoors has been a lifelong passion.
On a warm summer evening this past June, former first lady Laura Bush walked across the open field of the Prairie Theater in Albany, Texas, to the admiration of an eager crowd. Ranchers on horseback were positioned behind stands of mesquite trees, and performers in pioneer dress waited in the wings; the amphitheater brimmed with visitors from across the country who had come to enjoy the Fort Griffin Fandangle, the state’s oldest outdoor musical.
With ease and grace, Mrs. Bush addressed the audience. “The community members performing this evening have proven themselves trusted stewards of Texas heritage,” she said, “not just by reenacting the story of this prairie land year after year, but by living that heritage every day.”
Mrs. Bush was on hand that night to pay special tribute to a cause that’s near and dear to her. “Communities like this one inspired me to found Texan by Nature, an organization that recognizes contributions to our state’s natural heritage,” she explained. “At Texan by Nature, we are committed to conserving our natural resources for generations to come. Just as the Fort Griffin Fandangle tells the story of how our heritage is connected to this land, Texan by Nature is telling the story of how the prosperity of our great state and our quality of life are tied to the conservation of natural resources.” When Mrs. Bush finished her remarks, two young actors dressed in buckskin costumes escorted her from the field as applause echoed across the hills.
The Fort Griffin Fandangle was just one stop on Mrs. Bush’s ongoing journey with Texan by Nature to activate new investments in conservation that are Texan-led, community-organized and science-based. Together, they envision a future in which all Texans, urban and rural alike, share a conservation ethic that ensures Texas’ economic vitality and heritage by conserving our natural resources for generations to come.
A Lifelong Passion for Nature
Laura Welch Bush’s love of the outdoors and nature was established at an early age. Growing up in Midland, she was no stranger to the vast openness of West Texas. Weekend trips to visit family in Lubbock introduced her to the landscape of plains and canyons. Excursions to El Paso and summer weeks spent with grandparents there sparked an appreciation for cool spring waters and exploring the foothills of the Franklin Mountains.
“As a child, I frequently visited my grandparents in both Lubbock and El Paso, and spent time at Balmorhea,” she says. “Recently I was back at Balmorhea as part of a camping and hiking trip with childhood friends. I loved El Paso — the Pass of the North. It was, and is, so important to Texas history.” Her early experiences formed strong lifelong values. “More than that, I recall outside free-play, when children would go outside to play after school and would play until called in for the night,” she remembers. “It’s been documented that children today are outside less than any previous generation. Children need that free, imaginary play outdoors.”
Mrs. Bush’s mother, Jenna Welch, is credited with nurturing this appreciation for outdoor life. A self-taught naturalist, Mrs. Welch was an active member of the Midland Naturalist Group and the Audubon Society. Because Midland is located in the West Central Flyway, migrating birds, waterfowl and butterflies can be seen there throughout the year. So when Mrs. Welch served as her daughter’s Girl Scout leader, the troop worked on their bird badges. Today, Laura Bush describes herself as a “lifelong bird watcher” and traces this interest to her mother. And, as with thousands of girls, Girl Scouts provided opportunities for camping, hiking and outdoor adventures.
For several decades, the Midland Naturalists and volunteers such as Jenna Welch maintained property that had been donated to the City of Midland for a park. The land included an 86-acre urban playa wetland in its natural state. “Flying over West Texas after a rain, you will see silver spots across the land,” Mrs. Bush explains. “These are watering holes — natural playas. These low spots in the landscape are very important to the survival of birds and animals.”
Today, naturalists and birders can enjoy the I-20 Wildlife Preserve and Jenna Welch Nature Study Center, which stands as a tribute to the love of nature Welch passed on to her daughter — and provides habitat essential to the survival of local bird populations, native wildlife and thousands of migratory birds.
Her passionate appreciation for the beauty of Texas and the desire to make sure future generations would have these natural resources led Laura Bush to establish Texan by Nature in 2011. Working with several childhood friends, she founded the group as a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting conservation of our state’s natural resources.
“Texans are proud and want the best for our state,” Mrs. Bush acknowledges. “It’s the people and the land that make Texas great. We’re blessed with such geographic diversity — from the coastlands and Piney Woods to the Hill Country, plains and mountains. It’s the land that helps define our identity as Texans. It’s in our nature to care for the land and our natural resources. We know that what’s best is what’s natural, and our economy thrives when there’s that natural harmony.”
Recognizing good stewardship is good business. One of this group’s primary aims is to align the broad interests of conservation groups with business, healthcare, schools, the scientific community and faith-based organizations. By connecting new audiences to resources and education on the importance of native habitat, private land stewardship and water and wildlife conservation, the organization makes a positive and lasting tangible impact on people, the economy and our state’s natural resources. To date, Texan by Nature has helped activate $33.5 million in economic impact, the involvement of over 3 million Texans, and the conservation of nearly 44,000 acres of land through their programs, initiatives and collaborations with partners.
A Legacy for Future Generations
Love of the land was also a factor when Mrs. Bush, with her husband, Texas Governor and future President George W. Bush, sought to become landowners and purchased their Crawford ranch. Mrs. Bush’s eyes sparkle when conversation turns to their Prairie Chapel Ranch. “We were looking for a convenient place between Austin and Dallas,” she says. “It took several years, but we’ve worked to restore the land from coastal Bermuda to native prairie grasses. We also have a wetlands area where water again naturally accumulates; wildlife and birds are attracted there. Our property has seven box canyons, and we’re fortunate to have the Middle Bosque River and Rainey Creek flow through the ranch. Plus, there’s a tank where George can do some fishing!”
Texan by Nature’s executive director, Erin O’Neil Franz, explains how Texan by Nature organizes itself for success. “What distinguishes this group from other conservation organizations is that it provides three key services: connecting people with resources, catalyzing projects for accelerated execution and visibility, and communicating the successes achieved by these projects, communities and other conservation efforts. We hope to be the megaphone of conservation, bringing the message to audiences that have never been reached so that all Texans feel connected and invested in taking care of Texas.”
Franz believes that “with Mrs. Bush’s support and leadership, we have the opportunity to elevate the boots-on-the-ground conservation work being done across our state, and we can focus on a collaborative effort in getting new audiences to invest with time, expertise and financial resources.”
More than 45 organizations in Texas partner with Texan by Nature, including the Texas A&M Institute of Renewable Natural Resources and the Botanical Research Institute of Texas, as well as the Witte Museum, the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Dell and BAE Systems.
Along with their partners, Texan by Nature has helped secure 1,500 acres of land surrounding Bracken Cave near San Antonio as protected habitat for 15 million Mexican free-tailed bats, the largest maternal colony of bats on Earth. The organization also teamed up with the city of Goldthwaite, Texas, for the development of Legacy Plaza, a cultural and educational center in the heart of the city that features an educational native botanical garden, and a project that has resulted in over $13 million in economic development for the area. Texan by Nature partnered with project leaders to provide visibility, resources and expertise to help the project succeed, and Mrs. Bush keynoted the grand opening ceremony.
Now, Texan by Nature looks forward to building on their most recently launched program, Monarch Wrangler, a statewide initiative for Texas employers, organizations and individuals to get involved in creating habitat essential to the monarch butterfly. The organization hopes Monarch Wrangler will help address the decline of the monarch butterfly population — critical to the Texas economy as it helps to pollinate flowering plants and food crops. The monarch butterfly is the state insect of Texas and counts on the milkweed and native habitat it finds here, along its central migration route, to rest, feed and breed.
“A Moral Duty to Care for the Land”
Texan by Nature endeavors to shift the mindset that conservation is only something “someone else” does and appeals to our state’s unique Texan pride to inspire commitment and collaboration for the betterment of our natural resources — no matter if you call Muleshoe or Houston home. This shared culture of conservation will be increasingly critical, claims Texan by Nature, as our population continues to explode in urban centers. About 85 percent of Texas’ 29 million citizens now live in an urban environment. Skyscrapers and bustling urban lifestyles make it easy to become disconnected to our natural world and lose sight of how rural land stewardship impacts the water and air quality enjoyed in city centers. Texan by Nature wants all Texans to experience the benefits of nature, to understand the interconnectedness of our ecosystem with our economy, and to acknowledge the important role each of us plays in conserving our natural resources.
“We know that conservation is good business and that it enhances the quality of life for all Texans,” Mrs. Bush says. “I believe we have a moral duty to care for the land; it starts with taking care of your own yard.” Continuing, she adds, “Conservation really helps our state in so many ways, and we need to build on educating ourselves. We know that getting outdoors has so many benefits and leads to good physical and mental health.” Mrs. Bush encourages Texans, especially those in urban environments, to get outside and experience the joys of Texas’ natural landscapes, knowing that once they do, they too will grow invested in taking care of Texas.
Texan by Nature board member Tamara Trail of Albany, also a Fort Griffin Fandangle performer, fully supports Mrs. Bush’s view. “Stewardship is not a spectator sport,” she says, “and Texas’ natural landscape is inextricably tied to our Texas heritage. Landowners like my husband and me — and so many other ranchers — have an intergenerational approach: it’s about our family. It’s in our best interest to take care of the land.” Trail adds, “I’m proud to be part of Texan by Nature, an organization that takes a common sense approach to conservation. I’m grateful that through this organization, founded by Mrs. Bush, Texans like me can be part of the solution in strengthening the Texas economy through conservation stewardship and sharing our heritage with others.”
Preserving the Land and its Heritage
Laura Bush’s conservation advocacy extends beyond the land itself. As first lady of the United States, Mrs. Bush was honorary chair of the Preserve America initiative. In May of 2005, President and Mrs. Bush presented the Preserve America Presidential Award to the Texas Heritage Trails Program for activities advancing heritage tourism.
In discussing why heritage sites should matter to the next generation, Mrs. Bush observes that “the older I become, the more I realize that knowing history enables one to move forward. It’s important to understand the legacy of what has been left to you. As Texans and Americans, we have been incredibly blessed to have inherited our democracy and our established institutions.” She adds, “Also, it’s important to know your personal family history; tell your children about your parents and grandparents so that children get a sense of their heritage and where they fit.”
That’s a point she makes in a new children’s book coauthored with daughter Jenna Bush Hager, Our Great Big Backyard. “Parents need to put down their own electronic devices. A recent study shows that when parents are continually focused on their devices, it sends a message that they’re not interested in their children. Children perceive they’re not important. Parents need to talk to their children and be with them.”
As an “authentic Texan,” Mrs. Bush makes some travel suggestions for families and heritage tourists. “Visit El Paso, explore the San Antonio Riverwalk, take advantage of seeing Albany’s Fort Griffin Fandangle.” Then with a sly smile, she adds, “and of course, visit the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas!”
