East Foundation

06/11/2026

Our Fall 2026 Range & Wildlife Technician positions are now open to join our team on the San Antonio Viejo ranch in South Texas. This is a hands-on opportunity for juniors, seniors, or recent graduates in Wildlife and Range Management, Natural Resources, or related programs.

You'll gain real-world experience in:
- Vegetation surveys & plant ID
- Live white-tailed deer captures
- Conservation education & outreach
- Potential opportunity for owl surveys & quail trapping

📍 Jim Hogg County, TX
$16/hr + housing provided
Sept 8 – Nov 20, 2026
Apply by July 24, 2026
Click on the link in the comments to learn more and apply!

06/10/2026

Help us congratulate another graduating cohort of our Land Stewardship Ambassador (LSA) program! Our 10-session course for high school students is offered in partnership with the Witte Museum. We had another great year of increasing awareness of land stewardship principles and promoting civic engagement. By completing this course, they now know how to discuss topics of land stewardship as they relate to their local and state communities, communicate effectively with peers and instructors to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of land stewardship, and so much more. We’re so excited to see what’s next for this group of bright and hardworking students!

To learn more about this program, click on the link in our caption.

06/04/2026

06/03/2026

We're seeking four quail research technicians to join our team for the 2026–2027 field season in South Texas!

📍 Jim Hogg & Kenedy Counties
$16/hr | Not to exceed 40 hrs/week
Sept 1, 2026 – March 31, 2027
Apply by July 18, 2026

You'll gain hands-on experience in quail trapping, wildlife surveys, hunting observation, radio telemetry, and more, all on 70,000+ acres of working South Texas rangeland.

This position is open to graduates in Wildlife and Range Management, Natural Resources, or related fields. For more info, click on the link in the comments. © Jonathan Vail Photography

05/30/2026

Late May on the ranch brings many things, including Texas’s official state plant putting on a show! Designated by the Texas Legislature in 1995, the prickly pear earned that title for its ruggedness, historical importance, and adaptability. These blooms typically appear from April through June, and the prickly pear will start producing purple tuna from July to September! 🌵 © Wyman Meinzer

05/27/2026

In February, we welcomed over 1,900 fifth graders to our El Sauz ranch for Behind the Gates Field Days, marking our largest group to date. Through hands-on activities such as the Cattle Grazing Game, students gained a better understanding of the challenges posed by drought, disease, and resource management on a working ranch. Click on the link in our comments to read the full article from our Spring 2026 Newsletter! PC: Jonathan Vail Photography

05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, we remember and honor the heroes who gave everything for our freedom. We are deeply grateful for the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice. PC: Jonathan Vail Photography

05/22/2026

Congratulations to Jim Hogg County ISD on naming Dr. Susan Douglas as their lone finalist for Superintendent of Schools. As one of the counties our education team proudly serves, we look forward to seeing the great things ahead for the students and families under Dr. Douglas's leadership!

PRESS RELEASE: For Immediate Release

The Jim Hogg County Independent School District (“District”) is pleased to announce the selection of a lone finalist for the Superintendent of Schools position. Upon careful consideration of the applications received from highly qualified individuals, the District is proud to formally name Dr. Susan H. Douglas as the lone finalist for the District’s next Superintendent of Schools.
Dr. Douglas joins the District with over 30 years of experience in education and a strong track record of instructional leadership, campus administration, and student support services. Throughout her career, she has served in numerous leadership roles including principal, school counselor, instructional coach, testing coordinator, reading specialist, and classroom teacher.
Most recently, Dr. Douglas has served as Principal at Ramirez Common School District, where she partnered closely with educators and regional leaders to implement high-quality instructional initiatives, expand educational opportunities for students, and strengthen early literacy systems and instruction. Prior to this role, she served as Elementary Principal and Dyslexia Coordinator at Webb CISD, where she successfully led a campus out of Comprehensive Support Status under TEA accountability standards.
Dr. Douglas earned her Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from Texas A&M University– Corpus Christi in 2024. She also holds a Master’s degree in School Counseling from the University of the Southwest, a Master’s degree in Instructional Specialist–Reading Specialization from the University of Texas at El Paso, and a Bachelor’s degrees in interdisciplinary studies from Texas A&M University.
In addition to her educational leadership experience, Dr. Douglas has remained actively involved in her community, currently serving as Justice of the Peace for Jim Hogg County, Precinct 2. Her dedication to education, leadership, and public service has earned the respect of colleagues, students, families, and communities throughout South Texas.
The District is excited to announce Dr. Douglas as the lone finalist for the Superintendent of Schools position and looks forward to her leadership in serving the students, staff, parents, and community of Jim Hogg County Independent School District.
State law requires a 21-day waiting period following the naming of a lone finalist before officially employing the new Superintendent of Schools.

05/22/2026

Congratulations to the 2026 East Foundation Scholarship recipients! 🎓 These three Hebbronville High School graduates each received $3,500 in scholarships to support their continued education as they head to college.

Left to right in photo:
- Hayden Maldonado - Texas A&M University-Kingsville
- Leon Sarmiento - St. Philip's College
- Emily Garcia - Texas Tech University

Supporting their educational pursuits is our investment towards a brighter future, and we're excited to see where Hayden, Leon, and Emily go from here. Join us in celebrating their accomplishments!

05/20/2026

Branding season is one of the busiest times of year for our ranching team. These working days are rooted in generations of South Texas ranching tradition and play an important role in our cattle management and stewardship.

From horseback work to herd health checks, branding requires preparation and long hours from our dedicated team, who help care for our working landscapes every day. PC: Knox Kronenberg