Upcoming Meeting Information:

September 1, 2026  

6:00 PM Social Time 

6:30 PM Meeting

No Potluck, but snacks are welcome. 

Foundation for Southeast Texas Building

700 North Street, Beaumont, TX 77701

"Wild at Heart: Land Stewardship and a Win for Wildlife"

Nancy Angell

Learn about how one landowner took her love for nature and created a land stewardship project. 
Angell Acres is a 10-acre private property in Hardin County, Texas, that had previously been cleared and used to graze cattle. It is now managed to benefit native birds and pollinators, promoting biodiversity in the area.

Project Description & History

Nancy Angell moved to Angell Acres in 2015 with her horse, donkey, and sheep. Shortly after moving in, the animals began contracting diseases from the moist land. The sheep had anemia from worms, and the equine had hoof rot. Veterinary bills to battle the problems were expensive, and prevention was labor-intensive.

Through her local Texas Master Naturalist chapter, Nancy learned that instead of receiving an agricultural tax exemption, she could manage the property for wildlife and receive a wildlife tax exemption. She sold the sheep, targeted invasive plants, planted native plants, and put up nest boxes for birds and bats. In 2018, Nancy appeared before the Appraisal Review Board of Hardin County and successfully received a special valuation for wildlife management. She keeps all receipts and turns in a wildlife management plan and bird census annually.

Angell Acres continues to be managed for native birds and pollinators. Nancy strives to harvest seed from roadways and establish native plants from that seed when possible, which is cheaper than buying seed. She also trades plants with other Texas Master Naturalists and Native Plant Society of Texas members. The property’s iNaturalist project is used to document pollinators and host plants. To date, the project has documented over 40 native plant species and over 30 native insect species, all observed by Nancy. Additionally, she conducts a monthly bird census using eBird and has documented 87 bird species to date.

Community Impact

The nearby community of Kountze benefits from increased biodiversity resulting from the numerous native plants on Angell Acres. After Nancy spoke about her property to an audience of over 200 people, two attendees replicated similar efforts and converted their properties from timber tax-exempt properties to wildlife tax-exempt properties. Additionally, five fellow stewards have visited Angell Acres to assist with prescribed burns and native seed plantings.

Learn more about this project

Visit the project website

Our September meeting will also be available on Zoom.  Email gtgsierra@yahoo.com for the meeting link.