A fourth-generation rancher from Sabinal, Texas, Caroline Nunley grew up immersed in the daily rhythms of a working cow-calf operation between Uvalde and Hondo. From an early age, she and her sister, Sarah, were fully included in ranch life—working cattle, fixing water lines, hunting, and learning firsthand what it takes to care for land and wildlife over the long term.
“It was never a question of whether we could do something,” Caroline says. “It was just, this is the work that needs to be done. Let’s figure out how to do it.”
That mindset was shaped by both of her parents. Her father modeled hands-on stewardship and leadership through years of involvement with conservation organizations, while her mother kept the entire operation and household running, homeschooling Caroline and her sister and making sure nothing fell through the cracks. Together, they instilled in their daughters a deep respect for responsibility, resilience, and service.
Today, Caroline carries that legacy forward in multiple ways. She and her sister co-own and manage a small ranch near Batesville, where they balance a modest cow-calf operation with active wildlife management, including participation in a variety of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) programs. Though both now live in San Antonio, staying connected to the land remains a priority.
Caroline’s path to Stewards of the Wild began about eight years ago through the San Antonio Chapter. What started with local social events soon grew into something deeper as she became more involved statewide, connecting with fellow members across chapters and helping shape a more education-focused vision for the organization.
That commitment led her to become co-chair of the Private Lands Subcommittee, part of Stewards of the Wild’s Statewide Conservation Committee. In that capacity, Caroline works with members from across Texas to explore conservation issues affecting working lands and to create opportunities for learning and collaboration beyond traditional hunting events.
“I loved the events,” she says, “but I was really interested in creating space for education and conversation—ways for people to engage even if they didn’t grow up in this world.”
Her growing involvement, combined with encouragement from fellow Stewards leaders, ultimately led Caroline to apply and be selected as a Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation (TPWF) Board Fellow, a role she officially begins this year.
For Caroline, Stewards of the Wild plays a vital role in welcoming new conservation advocates and helping people find their place in the outdoors. “The most exciting thing to me is meeting people who are discovering the outdoors for the first time as adults,” she says. “They’re on fire for it. We need more people who care about wild places, not because it’s tradition for them, but because they’ve found something meaningful there.”
As agriculture and working lands face increasing pressures, Caroline believes that passion and connection matter more than ever. “To have people excited about the land, wildlife, and stewardship,” she says, “that’s how we make sure these places and values endure.”
