Conservation History Association of Texas
Texas Legacy Project
Oral History Interview
Nature Conservancy in Texas

Interviewee: Patricia Shield Ayres
Date: August 19, 2022
Site: Austin, Texas
Reels: 4037-4043
Executive Producer: Lydia Saldana
Producer: Jeff Weigel
Field Producer / Chief Interviewer: Lee Smith
Videographer: Curtis Craven
Writer / Editor: Ron Kabele
Transcriber: David Todd / Trint
Item: Ayres_Patricia_NCItem1_AustinTX_20220819_Reel4037-4043_Audio.mp3

[Numbers mark the time codes for the interview]

Lee Smith [00:00:16] So where did you grow up?

Patricia Ayres [00:00:17] I grew up in San Antonio.

Lee Smith [00:00:20] And like, you know, where did you go to school back then?

Patricia Ayres [00:00:26] Well, all the way from first grade through the 12th, I went to St Mary’s Hall there. And then after that, I went to Wellesley College in Boston for my bachelor’s degree.

Lee Smith [00:00:41] Excellent. And what was that in?

Patricia Ayres [00:00:44] Economics.

Lee Smith [00:00:48] So how did you, what’s your history with this property?

Patricia Ayres [00:00:54] Well, I was six or so years old when mother and dad bought the ranch. And so I grew up spending lots of time here, particularly in the summertime. And so, I have a long history with the race.

Lee Smith [00:01:16] And cast your mind back to those days. Was there a particular episode as a child or a time of year that you remember that kind of gave you, that you made a connection with the natural world?

Patricia Ayres [00:01:35] Yes, I was at time here in the summer mostly, when I was out of school and my mother would come out. We had at that time, excuse me, a peach orchard and wild plums and wild grapes all before the drought in the ’50s, which kind of wiped out a lot of that, but. So she would, they would be canning in the kitchen.

Patricia Ayres [00:01:58] And that little house in the back of the yard was the playhouse for me. And it had toys and little furniture and lots of National Geographics. That’s where I got my education about the world, I think.

Patricia Ayres [00:02:14] Anyway, so I spent. I was an only child. I’m an only child. So I spent a lot of time here. And I would go down to the creek and loved to go swim. And so as I got older, I would get up early and when the cow, we had cattle and goats and quarterhorses here that we were raising. And so I would ride with them out to check the livestock and so forth. I loved to do that.

Patricia Ayres [00:02:46] So and as I say, growing up, I spent quite a bit of time here in the summer.

Lee Smith [00:02:54] So summertime. It was pretty hot, though, wasn’t it?

Patricia Ayres [00:02:59] Yes, it was hot, but I don’t think I noticed it so much as a kid, you know.

Lee Smith [00:03:08] And with the with the creek to jump in?

Patricia Ayres [00:03:10] Yes.

Lee Smith [00:03:15] So was there a particular, was there a family member, or maybe a teacher or a ranch hand or anybody that played a role in introducing you to nature?

Patricia Ayres [00:03:30] Yes. Horace Echols was the manager of the ranch. He was here when the family bought it, and he was here until his death after years and years and years. So and he had a son who was about my age, so. But I learned a lot about the ranch from him.

Patricia Ayres [00:03:59] And then, from the, there was a family, the Herrera family, and they worked here. And so I would spend some time with them going out to run horseback or so forth. So I picked up what I learned about the ranch and of course, from my father particularly.

Lee Smith [00:04:26] What about popular culture? You mentioned that your playhouse had a bunch of National Geographics.

Patricia Ayres [00:04:34] Yeah. Well, that I couldn’t think of in terms of the things that were listed there. I didn’t really connect those with the ranch sort of, you know, with it, but TV and those kinds of things. But I.

Lee Smith [00:04:53] National Geographic.

Speaker 2 [00:04:55] Yes. National Georgraphic was was was really a good way to to learn.

Lee Smith [00:05:04] So when you were sitting in in the play house reading National Geographic, what were some of the things going through your mind? Do you remember? Or did you have any fantasies? Like, for instance, I, Tarzan movies is what it was for me that was got me, you know, initially into nature.

Patricia Ayres [00:05:26] Yeah, well. No. I can’t remember particularly but I, I was, I was so interested in the… Oh, they would have articles about people in different parts of the world and, and that that was interesting to me. So. And I can’t even remember too much more about them.

Lee Smith [00:05:48] Yeah. Okay. So we see we’ve covered this. What’s the history of the Shield ranch with your family? Your, your dad and mom purchased it, right?

Patricia Ayres [00:06:01] Right.

Lee Smith [00:06:03] And then. So what about your husband? You know, he got involved in this.

Patricia Ayres [00:06:10] Yes. He loved the ranch because as growing up, he grew up in San Antonio as well. But he and his family lived out sort of on the outskirts of town. So he was involved with 4-H and raised cattle and had steers and so forth. So he he and he loved being here at the ranch and. Yes.

Lee Smith [00:06:35] What was his name? And and tell me how you all met.

Patricia Ayres [00:06:38] Okay. His name was Bob Ayres, or Robert Ayres, Jr. And we met. His sister and I were contemporaries and went to school together. And I knew she had an older, older brothers. But at that time, they were all in the war and one thing and another. So I really didn’t meet him until she got married and I was in her wedding. And so then after that, we began to date.

Patricia Ayres [00:07:07] And the famous story is that Bob’s mother said, “Now, Bobby, you ought to take Patsy out to a date because she and her family did so many nice things for Ann during the wedding.” That’s the tale that he tells.

Patricia Ayres [00:07:22] Anyway, be that as it may, we did begin to date after that, and I was in college in Boston at that point. So he would manage. He was an investment banker, so he would manage to have business in New York and what have you. And I’d get to visit him while I was in college. And then we married in September after I graduated from college in May. So.

Lee Smith [00:07:50] And when was that?

Patricia Ayres [00:07:52] I beg your pardon?

Lee Smith [00:07:53] What year was that?

Patricia Ayres [00:07:55] ’55. 1955.

Lee Smith [00:07:56] ’55.

Patricia Ayres [00:07:57] He was an investment banker and he was in business in San Antonio. And so we lived there.

Lee Smith [00:08:09] But you still came out here?

Patricia Ayres [00:08:10] Yeah. Yes, We came out when we could, and on the weekends and then in the summer.

Lee Smith [00:08:18] So why did your family pursue a conservation easement for this property?

Patricia Ayres [00:08:26] Because I think we realized that with Austin growing like it was, there were going to be threats to this property. I think one out there was that there was a point when they had decided they were going to build a road through one side of the ranch, and that fortunately did not come to pass. But I think it just we realized that we need to do everything we could. To protect the land from the encroaching development.

Lee Smith [00:09:02] Was it a difficult decision?

Patricia Ayres [00:09:03] No. Or no. We were just grateful, I think, that there was this kind of a way to protect the ranch and to work with the Nature Conservancy on it. You know, it was a blessing to be able to. To do that and have them. Option available.

Lee Smith [00:09:29] How is the Nature Conservancy to work with?

Patricia Ayres [00:09:34] Great. I mean, we have present company. You know, we think all along it’s been a very positive relationship. And I think their deep knowledge of the sort of thing that helped us to be able to. Make an arrangement that was beneficial for them and for us to.

Lee Smith [00:09:58] What’s what’s unique about this site and what makes it important to protect?

Patricia Ayres [00:10:03] Well, it’s in the Barton Creek watershed, and we have 6 or 7 miles of Barton Creek that runs through it. And so it. The water that’s collected here, you know, sweeps down into the ground where it provides. You know, it’s just it’s an important area, particularly with the ever-increasing population in Austin and the suburban sprawl that’s going on. It’s just I think it’s it’s important to preserve it, to collect the rain and provide the natural resources that it has.

Lee Smith [00:10:54] And just driving out here this morning, Curtis kept going “My God, look at this traffic!”

Patricia Ayres [00:11:00] It’s awful.

Lee Smith [00:11:00] Who are all these people?

Patricia Ayres [00:11:02] So it’s just, you know, it’s just more. More and more. And so. I was just thinking while I was filling out the questions that you sent. That it really is it really is important to have this kind of vehicle to help families to preserve their land, particularly in areas like this where urban sprawl is such a threat.

Lee Smith [00:11:33] Well, now. Yes. You know, back then, it was more of a personal kind of thing, it seems like. But as you’re saying now, you just look around and see the implications of that decision you made back then. The the the wiseness of it is it’s just so apparent now. Do you, does that smack you across the face?

Patricia Ayres [00:12:08] No, I, I’m grateful. You know, I’m grateful that we did it and that we did it at the time we did because I think there was much less pressure on the land at that point than there is now. And plus the fact that hopefully we set an example for some others to follow as the years have gone by.

Lee Smith [00:12:36] Yeah. The success of this property and I think has really been, you know, been beneficial all the way around the state and the stuff you’ve done on the other ranches too, the other conservation easements.

Lee Smith [00:12:59] And we talked about … Have you been to Barton Springs Pool?

Patricia Ayres [00:13:03] Yes.

Lee Smith [00:13:05] And while you were there, did you kind of muse about how this water here was there at your place?

Patricia Ayres [00:13:17] Yes. Yes.

Lee Smith [00:13:19] So tell me about that connection.

Patricia Ayres [00:13:20] Well. I just I think that, you know, we are part of that whole watershed. And with this amount of acreage, it is it’s it’s significant. And so I’m sorry our daughter’s not here because she’s regular swimming at the pool. And she would speak with more heart than I. I just know what’s there. But I have been there. But she’s she loves to go early in the morning and and swim and so.

Lee Smith [00:13:52] And that’s Vera.

Patricia Ayres [00:13:53] Yeah, Vera. That’s our daughter. I mean, her son, Marshall, would be our next one.

Lee Smith [00:14:03] Right, right, right. So you said that I was, of course, how did your family come to a consensus? But it was, it seems it was pretty. And your husband, was he alive during that?

Patricia Ayres [00:14:19] Yes. Yes, he was. Yes. He was very interested in it, too. I think it was not a, I mean, it didn’t seem like a difficult thing to do. It just seemed like it was the right thing and the time was good and that it was an opportunity for us that was beneficial, very beneficial to us.

Lee Smith [00:14:45] Yeah, the timing, I think, was, you know, fortuitous for a variety of reasons, just in terms of the amount of acreage, but also the timing with that second easement and the bond issue. That seemed to work out.

Patricia Ayres [00:15:02] That was perfect.

Lee Smith [00:15:07] So why? There’s a lot of different things that go on out here. And let’s just touch on a few of those. The research, why is the research important? Why is that a part of the vision of the Shield Ranch?

Patricia Ayres [00:15:26] Well, because I think it’s important to learn as much as you can about the history of the land, both of history, the people on it, but also the geographic and geological nature of it. And it’s been fascinating for us to learn what the researchers have found.

Patricia Ayres [00:15:57] I don’t remember the number of miles, but the amount of these rock walls that are around the range that were built is just amazing. The mileage and think about these people building them.

Patricia Ayres [00:16:12] And we don’t have a lot of evidence of the Indians here, but some. And of course, we know that they were here.

Patricia Ayres [00:16:19] And then there’s just so much evidence of the settlers from Germany and Prussia in the late 1800s. And I think the Haas House down there and the walls and the store, the cedar rock store. And so we’ve really tried to preserve those, all of those things, that are evidence of the people who came before us.

Lee Smith [00:16:53] And what about the educational? There’s there’s a very significant educational programs that you all have had out here that are well, you know, you know, next week there’s going to be the grand opening of the new facility. So why is is that so important to y’all?

Patricia Ayres [00:17:18] Well, the, of course we’ve we’ve we’ve been interested all along in the research and in people learning more about the land both geographically and the history of the people here.

Patricia Ayres [00:17:33] But that we also, I think, had a real concern for people being able to come out and to enjoy it and share it. And out of that interest, our the camp El Ranchito, which serves children mostly, who would not have the opportunity to otherwise come and be in a nature experience. So we’ve been very excited about the development of that.

Patricia Ayres [00:18:09] And now with the facilities, of course, all heretofore they’ve got we’ve pitched tents and they’ve had camp and then when it’s over, it’s gone. But now with our campsite, it’ll be a chance for people to come all year-round and if they’re interested to, they will be able to have programs to learn about the land and about the history of the land and so forth and the various plants and animals and so forth.

Patricia Ayres [00:18:44] But anyway, that will be a part of what we provide for people who come to use the camp if they want it or if they just want to come and use it and don’t get that extra benefit. That’s all right, too.

Patricia Ayres [00:18:58] Anyway, I think it’s it’s going to be a way for us to share the land in a way that is, does not disturb, either cause crowds or that kind of thing, but yet have people be able to come and to experience being out-of-doors.

Lee Smith [00:19:19] Bob was saying that there and Curtis was actually at an event shooting it with the campers and the counselors. And they were talking about these counselors that were former campers.

Patricia Ayres [00:19:31] Right.

Lee Smith [00:19:33] So, I mean, that is a living legacy that that that you know what I mean? That that.

Lee Smith [00:19:40] It is.

Patricia Ayres [00:19:41] That that is outside of you. But you’ve provided this opportunity and it lives through these other people, the exact people that you thought about initially in your vision. How does that how does that make you feel?

Patricia Ayres [00:19:57] Well, it makes us feel very, very grateful and pleased. And it is it’s fun to watch those.

Patricia Ayres [00:20:08] Back before Covid, we had events where the families would come out and have dinner at the close of each session of camp. Excuse me. They’d come out and have dinner and get to see the kids do skits and that sort of thing, but get a feel for what the land is like.

Patricia Ayres [00:20:28] And then the other thing we’ve done is that through the year, we’ve taken families that wanted to go on camp-outs to a state park or something like that. So we’ve offered to them that opportunity to do things in nature that they wouldn’t normally have. So that we’ve, you know, as you say, it’s wonderful to see the kids grow up and be counselors, and we’ve gotten to know the families. And so it’s a relationship that’s very rich for us.

Lee Smith [00:21:05] I think it it has validated your initial idea.

Patricia Ayres [00:21:12] So I think in anyway if it’s going to I just I’m really, really excited about the potential for the new camp site because I think so many more people will be able to come out to the ranch and learn about the history and of this area and just about the geography and so forth.

Lee Smith [00:21:37] Well, it’s it’s also what strikes me, you know, a conservation easement is, you know, it’s this thing on paper. It’s this you know, it’s supposed to protect the land in perpetuity, you know, and whatnot. But but the campsite idea, I mean, that’s living and breathing. That that’s like a living and breathing conservation easement, in my view.

Patricia Ayres [00:22:07] That’s great. Okay.

Lee Smith [00:22:10] Does that make sense?

Patricia Ayres [00:22:10] Sure.

Patricia Ayres [00:22:11] I do. I think that as well as certainly it’s going to open, enables more people to have access to the ranch and at a deeper level than just driving around or taking a hike or something, to be able to stay for several days and to experience the day and night and all of the things, the weather. It’s a much more intensive experience, I think.

Lee Smith [00:22:45] Why is that important today?

Patricia Ayres [00:22:47] Well, I think that with the ever-expanding urban areas, there are just so many people who don’t have the opportunity to get out into nature, into land that’s relatively undisturbed and, you know, hear are the owls and see the water running, if mercifully, we get rain. Because although the campsite is not on the creek, the campers go down to the creek and swim in the creek and all. And I think, I don’t know, for me as a child that was so wonderful. And I think that the opportunity to get out and be in the water and that sort of thing is is really rich and to be outside at night and and hear of owls and be kind of creepy. You know. I think I think that those are I think those are lifelong gifts to people, really, of experiences.

Lee Smith [00:24:04] Well, it’s like, you know, your experiences here during the summer.

Patricia Ayres [00:24:07] Right.

[00:24:08] Made obviously a huge impact on you. And I’m sure that’s going to be true for people that come through the educational programs.

Patricia Ayres [00:24:19] I hope so. Because they do, they learn quite a bit in in the course of, in addition to playing games, but then hiking and so forth. And the older, older campers, we have tools. They learn how to build trails and so forth. And sometimes Parks and Wildlife or somebody will have them come and help repair. So they’re getting a skill and but just experiencing, you know, just a wider recognition of what it takes to to build and maintain and preserve the land, and.

Lee Smith [00:25:01] Well. And give back.

Patricia Ayres [00:25:02] And give back. Yes.

Lee Smith [00:25:13] I should have asked about them. What can you tell me about that? Because we’ve got you’ve got the two different. There’s the Nature Discovery, and that’s for the younger kids. And then you’ve got the camp Conservation Corps. And that’s the high school kids, right? What’s the river expedition?

Patricia Ayres [00:25:29] Well, they, in conjunction with the school in San Marcos, Texas State, yeah, it was open to 18 to 20 year old. And they would go, come, they start out here. And then they go into town and they follow the San Antonio. I mean, the river all the way down to the coast. And so they could experience all the different kinds of land and the farming and all the different things.

Patricia Ayres [00:26:13] And then when they got to the coast, sometimes the Parks and Wildlife would have a project like they would be gathering oyster shells to build barriers and so forth. So they, it was just an immersive experience of older young people into nature. And so the correlation between as the river goes down through the different kinds of of geographies and so forth.

Lee Smith [00:26:44] So they’re making connection not only to this property but everything that lies beyond that.

Patricia Ayres [00:26:48] Right.

Lee Smith [00:26:49] Why is that important?

Patricia Ayres [00:26:52] Well, I think I think particularly for young people who’ve grown up in a fairly limited exposure just to their neighborhood and maybe shortly beyond to to understand the reality of land behind the differences in the land. Some farms, some forests, small cities and urban areas and then also down to the coast. And the whole experience of being on the ocean is very, it’s brought out in people. It gives them a greater understanding of the place of which they’re a part, in a broader sense.

Lee Smith [00:27:44] And how it’s connected.

Patricia Ayres [00:27:45] And how it’s all connected. Yes.

Lee Smith [00:27:53] So we hit that. We’ve hit threatened an endangered species. When did you start coming here? You’ve been out here longer than anybody else. When did you start to become aware of some of these endangered species and and why was that important?

Patricia Ayres [00:28:26] Well, I think through Parks and Wildlife and the Conservancy and so forth, and just through the reality of not of seeing that you didn’t there weren’t some things around as much as there were before.

Patricia Ayres [00:28:42] But then it’s important, I think, because every every creature I think has sort of a play, a part to play in the whole system of things. And when you lose one, their part is gone. And it may seem like simple things in the overall scheme, but I think that all of all of the creatures that are here are part of a of a network and a mosaic, and that when they’re gone, there’s a gap. So I think protecting endangered species and just protecting the land so that the things can thrive that belong here and are part of the tapestry of nature.

Lee Smith [00:29:42] Getting to, you know, you’ve been out here a long time, but things have changed. And now you’ve got the all this research going on. You’ve got the educational camps going on and everything, but this is still the place where you grew up. So how is your sense of this place grown and changed?

Patricia Ayres [00:30:05] Well, I think through the years. We’ve all learned so much about, more about it, about the through the research that’s gone on here, we’ve learned more about the history and we’ve learned more about the geology and geography and how those things and how the plants and through the work we’ve done. How the whole system weaves together. And and I think all of that just leads to a deeper love and appreciation for for the ranch. And for it’s sort of situation in the larger, larger area.

Lee Smith [00:30:58] What’s your favorite place or time out here?

Patricia Ayres [00:31:04] Well, I saw that question. It was hard to answer because. But one of the things I love is there are several places around the ranch where you have a really wonderful vista across the ranch. And those, so those are places that I enjoy going.

Patricia Ayres [00:31:24] And and time, I guess the fall or spring.

Lee Smith [00:31:35] Is there, what about the fall or spring?

Patricia Ayres [00:31:38] Well. In the spring particularly, all these things begin to grow, providing we have rain. And and it’s really it’s remarkable how resilient the land is. And even with a little bit of rain, all those things begin to pop up and to thrive.

Patricia Ayres [00:32:05] And different, in the fall too is pretty because the leaves begin to change. And but I don’t, any time is fine with me. I’m just grateful when I have a chance to be here.

Lee Smith [00:32:31] So you’ve partnered with the Nature Conservancy on some of these other properties. Tell me about those properties and why you got involved with the Nature Conservancy there.

Patricia Ayres [00:32:42] Well. We have a ranch out in Jeff Davis County, which is in the mountains, and then outside of Camp Wood. And I think because I think the Nature Conservancy has an understanding of the land and of its seasons and it just you learn how to better be a better steward. The more you can learn about the geology and geography of the plants and animals and all of that. So that, you, the decisions you make are hopefully nurturing to those systems and not destructive to them.

Lee Smith [00:33:35] Were these ones that, these two other ranches, were they ones that you and your husband got, or are they?

Patricia Ayres [00:33:43] No, no, no.

Patricia Ayres [00:33:45] My my parents bought both of them subsequent to this. I can’t remember the years.

Patricia Ayres [00:33:54] But the the ranch out in West Texas is in the Davis Mountains. And so that’s, it’s very rough and rolling.

Lee Smith [00:34:10] Is there anything that we didn’t talk about that you wanted to say?

Patricia Ayres [00:34:13] No, I don’t think so, except for I just to say how grateful we are for this relationship with the Conservancy, because I think through that, we’ve learned so much about the things I’ve been talking about, that what the place of the land is and the overall scheme of things and the actions you can take and not take to preserve it.

Patricia Ayres [00:34:39] And so we’re very grateful for the, not not just the easement, but just for the overall knowledge and experience that we’ve had being affiliated with the Conservancy. It’s very important. So, cheers.

Lee Smith [00:34:59] Do you have anything? Are we good.

Jeff Weigel [00:35:03] Very good.

Patricia Ayres [00:35:04] You know, you kind of forget you’re in Texas when you’re out there. And so it’s. And then the Camp Wood ranch is surrounded by hills. Then there’s a large valley in the middle of it. So it’s a, through the years, of course they ranched. They had cattle and different things, all the different ranches. We don’t do that now, but there was a time when they were active ranches.

Lee Smith [00:35:35] Now, you talked a little bit about liking to go out and look at the stars here. What about the stars out at the Fort Davis ranch?

Patricia Ayres [00:35:44] Well, that’s that’s a whole other. That’s that’s wonderful. You know, that’s just it’s so far to any serious light source, that ground light that you can really see. It’s just amazing. And you can see from the mountains there, you can just see so far because it goes right into the desert area. So you just see and see and see until you see the horizon. It’s amazing.

Lee Smith [00:36:15] As a person, how does that work? What kind of perspective does that give you on life?

Patricia Ayres [00:36:25] Well, I think that helps you appreciate the vastness of even that small little scheme of things, small portion of the state that I think it gives you a greater appreciation for how much land there is, and the diversity of landscapes and of of the flora and fauna that are on those landscapes and the history behind that, the history of settlement and so forth.

Patricia Ayres [00:37:05] It’s, you, but particularly you can also look off from the top of those mountains, and it’s it’s just amazing how far you can see. You really appreciate how vast, how vast, the land is particularly out there in uninterrupted space.

Lee Smith [00:37:38] So Bob was telling us about, you know, the first time you all got together and kind of had a vision for the the ranch and then got together again in 2015 and 2016 and had another kind of brainstorming about the vision of the ranch. In fact, there’s a poster of it on the wall over there.

Patricia Ayres [00:38:04] Yeah.

Lee Smith [00:38:08] And I, we can see all those elements of that vision playing out right now. What sense, I mean, how do you feel about that vision?

Patricia Ayres [00:38:29] Well, I think it. I feel like we came to a really comfortable understanding. And I think the really important factor to those meetings was that all of our all of the children and grandchildren were here and participated in those experiences.

Patricia Ayres [00:38:52] And I think that was one of the important parts of it for us because they had the opportunity, both in the first weekend to just learn in depth about particularly about this ranch, in, you know, all of its dimensions.

Patricia Ayres [00:39:10] And then in the next one to begin to develop a vision for the future and hopefully to engage them in that vision and to help give them a deep understanding of what the ranch is and what the potentials are and what the opportunities are.

Patricia Ayres [00:39:36] So we were just thrilled that they all came and were involved. And I think it was a very significant time just to begin to pull everybody into the same set of information, and sort of a unified vision about where we were going.

Patricia Ayres [00:39:58] Yeah. So it was. It was wonderful. We’ve just we had all these big boards out here across and everybody lined up wonderful facilitators. And it was a very rich, a rich family time for us. And I think all of us just gained a lot of perspective and insight and sort of a consolidated vision for what we’re doing and where we’re going. That’s important.

Lee Smith [00:40:38] Do you have any advice for other families that may be in a kind of a similar position as yours? To have a piece of property that they are wanting to protect and to have kids. What, do you have any advice for them?

Patricia Ayres [00:41:02] Well. A couple things.

Patricia Ayres [00:41:07] One is that I think it’s really important for to become associated with a group like the Nature Conservancy that helps you to understand your place and your property in the overall scheme of things. And what, what are the issues that are threatening? What are the positive developments? What are the courses you could take just to get a broad grasp of what of what a piece of property is and and so forth.

Patricia Ayres [00:41:45] And then the other important part of that whole process was to help to engage both ourselves and the younger generations in in really what what we want to do with it. What what is our role with the land and how what steps are we going to take to to preserve it and what what opportunities are there to share it? And just to to really lay out a plan for for the future in which they hopefully are significantly engaged.

Patricia Ayres [00:42:28] But I think that having those two deep weekend immersion opportunities at an age when they’re all old enough to to think and and learn about those things has been, was really important. And some are more engaged than others but they they had a common a common knowledge base upon which to choose their engagement and their decisions and to be be a part of it if they want to.

Lee Smith [00:43:01] Both you and Bob have used a word several times, and that’s the word, “share”. Why is it important for y’all to share?

Patricia Ayres [00:43:19] Well, because I think when you have something that is of value to you and you you want to share it, and to have other people be able to come and learn about it, to enjoy it if that’s the level at which. But just that, because I think as people come here and learn about the ranch and what’s going on and all the all about it, then it helps them to appreciate the wider surroundings and why it’s important to have a place that’s being preserved in the face of development all the way around it and to understand what what that’s contributing to the overall ecology and landscape and so forth.

Patricia Ayres [00:44:25] But I just plus, I think there’s just there’s just joy in people coming to be out-of-doors and to be in a a natural place that is something that you want people to be able to have an experience.

Lee Smith [00:44:47] Okay. What advice do you have for young people coming up in the field of conservation?

Patricia Ayres [00:45:02] Well, I think I think it’s important for people to understand the threats that there are to natural places and that all of this just isn’t going to stay here if there isn’t concerted work to protect it. And to understand why it’s important to have undeveloped spaces and what they contribute to the overall ecosystem and so forth.

Patricia Ayres [00:45:41] And so I think if people don’t have a the experience of being in the out-of-doors and in open spaces, they don’t maybe understand the importance of their being preserved, because without them so much would go awry in the whole scheme of things. And I think that understanding those connections between open space and natural spaces and developed spaces and their impact on each other is very important.

Lee Smith [00:46:26] So what’s your outlook on the future of conservation? How do you how do you think overall we’re going?

Patricia Ayres [00:46:36] Well, I hope people are beginning to more and more realize how important it is that that you that things just don’t happen, that you can go outside and enjoy the outdoors and be in nature, on a park or a ranch or something. That that it takes concerted study and knowledge and action to make those things happen and to be preserved.

Patricia Ayres [00:47:09] And the more people can understand that, they will be supportive of whether it’s legislation or whatever that that helps to preserve the natural spaces.

Patricia Ayres [00:47:24] And I think, you know, if people don’t experience those things, they don’t they don’t realize it when those opportunities are being diminished and when things are happening that are going to really make a negative impact, or things that are happening that are going to be positive.

Patricia Ayres [00:47:47] So if they have a bond issue or decisions that come as citizens, then they need to understand the whole scheme of interrelatedness of of nature and of undeveloped versus developed landscapes and so forth.

Patricia Ayres [00:48:13] It just, you know, it it doesn’t just happen. And if you, if you’re not careful, they’ll go away with every day. So I think the more people are aware that those things take, you know, it takes effort and it takes commitment to preserve the out-of-doors for all good reasons to do it, then they may make decisions that are very destructive to to nature.