FORT WORTH, TEXAS (RFD NEWS) — Martha Santos grew up as a fourth-generation rancher in Laredo, Texas, watching the city expand onto land that had historically been part of her family’s ranch.
Her family was involved in nearly every side of the cattle industry, including a packing plant, grocery store, and ranch.
“I grew up in Laredo on the border,” Santos said. “My family had, I like to say, every side of the industry.”
As she watched development reach her family’s property, Santos began looking for ways to protect the ranching way of life while also finding practical solutions for a changing landscape.
Protecting the Ranching Way of Life
Santos said seeing a country club built where her grandfather once ran cattle made the impact of urbanization especially personal.
“I basically saw, if nobody steps up to the plate for my generation, nobody else will,” Santos said.
She said the amount of land and resources is fixed, making conservation important. At the same time, she recognizes that agriculture is a business and that farmers and ranchers have always had to innovate.
Santos initially pursued ranch management before pivoting into the energy space.
“I started in ranch management and then pivoted to the energy space,” she said.
She said her goal is to bring those two worlds together rather than treating tradition and innovation as opposing ideas.
Agriculture, Energy and Policy
Santos now works in community engagement and public affairs for a large energy company covering Texas and Louisiana.
Her career shift came after seeing the growing overlap between agriculture, energy and policy.
She returned to school for an MBA focused on energy to help connect her ranching background with the energy industry.
Santos said it is important for people in agriculture to tell their own stories, particularly when policies are being developed that affect farmers and ranchers.
“If we’re not telling our story, somebody else will,” Santos said.
She said policymakers in Austin and Washington can be removed from the day-to-day realities of agriculture, including checking fences, managing land, and living with the realities of ranching.
Bringing Both Sides Together
Santos said partnerships with energy companies can play an important role in balancing development with landowners’ concerns. She emphasized putting people first, listening to communities, and building long-term relationships.
Santos also uses her ranching background to make complicated policy and industry discussions easier for landowners to understand.
“I feel like a lot of people are making policy that affects ranchers without cluing in the rancher and without giving them a seat at the table,” Santos said.
She believes her experience in both ranching and energy lets her have a greater impact in that space while maintaining her connection to agriculture.
“I still love it, and it’s never going to get out of my system,” Santos said.
