LITTLEFIELD, Texas – John Roley never thought he’d win. The longtime landowner and former car dealer had his doubts when he was nominated for the 2025 Texas Land Steward Award from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. “We’re in West Texas — it doesn’t rain,” he said. “They came to film in the middle of a drought, and I didn’t think I stood a chance.”
But Roley’s persistence and dedication to conservation earned him the prestigious recognition — and he says the experience has been well worth the wait.
“Conservation isn’t about making dramatic changes overnight. It’s about showing others what’s possible when you give nature a little room to breathe — and then watching it come alive.”
Roley’s 2,200-acre ranch, fondly known as Little Las Vegas, sits along the Yellow House Draw in southern Lamb and northern Hockley Counties — the headwaters of the Brazos River. The land has a colorful past, once serving as a gambling site, a buffalo hunting camp, and a strategic outpost for Comanches and Union soldiers. Today, it’s become a model for modern restoration.
“I bought it to hunt doves,” Roley said with a laugh. “But it’s become a place where wildlife thrives — quail, mule deer, sandhill cranes, red-winged blackbirds. It’s amazing what shows up when you give nature the space and resources it needs.”
With help from the Texas Playa Conservation Initiative and technical support through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Roley restored one playa on his property — fencing it off from cattle, rerouting runoff through a filtration system, and managing surrounding vegetation for long-term health.
Found at the lowest point of a watershed, playas are round, shallow basins lined with clay soil that collect and hold rainfall and runoff, forming temporary wetlands. These natural recharge basins play a vital role in replenishing groundwater and supporting wildlife.
The playa restoration process wasn’t quite as Roley expected.
“I didn’t know what I was doing,” he admitted. “I was used to running a dealership, where you get immediate results. But this? It takes time. You’ve got to trust the process.”
That trust has paid off. His playa is now a magnet for wildlife and serves as a vital water source in a region where rainfall is scarce. Roley says his restored playa has also increased the value of his land — proof that good stewardship makes good economic sense.
He encourages other landowners — especially retirees or those new to agriculture — to give conservation a try.
“Your best resources are your neighbors and the folks at NRCS and Texas Parks and Wildlife,” he said. “Be friendly. Ask questions. Learn. It’s not going to happen overnight, but it will happen — and you’ll be glad you did it.”
Roley now hosts field days, scout troops, and wildlife students on his property. He sees it as a way to give back.
“If you’ve been fortunate enough to own land, you’ve also been given an opportunity,” he said.
“Conservation isn’t about making dramatic changes overnight. It’s about showing others what’s possible when you give nature a little room to breathe — and then watching it come alive.”
Learn more about Roley’s conservation efforts in this video about the 2025 Lone Star Land Steward Award winner.