Adrian Sabom is a South Texas native who spent her childhood on a working cattle ranch on the Nueces Strip. As an adult, Adrian has spent three decades volunteering her time and resources in support of applied wildlife research in South Texas with the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute. Adrian is a lifelong quail hunter and proud mother of two.

What was it like growing up on a ranch and how have outdoor experiences shaped who you are?

Growing up on a ranch means that as a child, I was outside most of the time. When my brothers and I came home from school, we rushed through homework so we could head outdoors. That experience certainly gave me a greater appreciation for the outdoors. Both my mom and dad love to hunt quail, and we would spend a lot of time during the holidays quail hunting. Quail hunting is a great family bonding experience that we now enjoy with our own children. It provides camaraderie and conversations that you just don’t get in other settings.

How are you sharing your love of the outdoors with your family?

As parents, my husband and I want our children to grow up with a wholesome upbringing, and that’s hard to do without time spent outdoors. As our kids have gotten older, we’re always exploring things we can do outdoors as a family. We love visiting state parks. Enchanted Rock, Balmorhea, Davis Mountains and Garner State Park are a few of our favorites. We enjoy national parks as well. A couple of years ago we did a camping trip that took us through several national parks including the Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion. We put away the cell phones and technology. The scenery was beautiful, and the family time was priceless.

Supporting wildlife research is part of your family legacy. What does that mean to you?

As a landowner, it is my duty to conserve wild places for future generations. Our family has been fortunate to be able to take care of land for generations. It is a responsibility we don’t take lightly. We appreciate the value of the land, not just for our family today, but for future generations. The Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute is providing landowners with the best available science to manage their lands to benefit wildlife. We’re proud to support those efforts.

Why have you partnered with TPWF in the We Will Not Be Tamed campaign?

I really believe in what Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation is doing. I believe in this campaign. Protecting the wild things and wild places of our state is something we can all get behind. And I really like the idea of using authentic everyday people who spend time outdoors and really enjoy it as ambassadors to help spread the word. Texas has so much to offer. And there are so many beautiful places to visit and enjoy that most people don’t even know about.

Why should Texans care about conserving Texas’ lands, waters and wildlife?

Texas parks allows our citizens to enjoy natural resources without owning land. We’re blessed with several national parks and state parks scattered across Texas. These public lands are a treasure, and we need to conserve all of our outdoor spaces for our children and grandchildren.

Can you share a recent outdoor experience that was meaningful to you and explain why?

I think a memory that will last with me and my children forever is spending the day in the field with my extended family quail hunting over the Christmas break. We had all ages, from 4 to 72 years, out for the day visiting and enjoying being together. We are all busy with kids and our day-to-day lives that we never have enough quality time together as a family. A family day in the field is an unforgettable experience.