Texas Border Business
McALLEN, Texas – Quinta Mazatlán will host the first official unveiling of “Wild Women for Good: Stories of Conservation in Texas” during a special Thursday Night Live event on February 12, 2026, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. The evening will bring together some of the most influential women in Texas conservation for a live panel discussion, music, wine, and conversation among friends.
Author Jennifer L. Bristol chose Quinta Mazatlán as the launch location for her new book because of its mission centered on birding, habitat education, and conservation, an ideal match for the book’s focus on the origins and evolution of the conservation movement in Texas.
The program, A Conversation with Wild Women for Good, will feature a panel discussion with eight women: Valarie Bristol, Joy Hester, Colleen Hook, Madge Lindsay, Martha G. Martinez, Marisa Oliva-Rodriguez, Carolyn Vogel, and author Jennifer Bristol. Together, they will share personal stories, insights, and perspectives on conservation efforts across the state.
Texas’s conservation movement began in the 1890s when a group of young women in Galveston organized to protect birds threatened by the feather trade in the fashion industry. Bristol’s book traces this legacy forward, exploring more than 130 years of conservation leadership from species protection and habitat preservation to clean water advocacy and community-driven policy initiatives. While women have long been at the forefront of conservation in Texas, many of their stories have remained largely untold until now.
Jennifer L. Bristol is also the author of “Parking Lot Birding: A Fun Guide to Discovering Birds in Texas” and “Cemetery Birding: An Unexpected Guide to Discovering Birds in Texas”. She contributed to her father’s book, “Texas State Parks: The First 100 Years 1923–2023”, and co-founded and now directs the Victor Emanuel Nature Scholarship Fund, which helps send teens to birding camps. Bristol has served on several civic and environmental boards in Austin and Travis County and currently resides in Austin with her husband, five dogs, and three horses.
In addition to the panel discussion, guests will enjoy live music along with wine and beer provided by El Nopalito: Desposito and coffee and treats from Kreative Grounds, available for purchase. Attendees will also have the opportunity to meet the author and have books signed.
Tickets $5 online at quintamazatlan.ticketleap.com. Offsite parking at La Plaza Mall (1400 Wichita Avenue) with free shuttle to Quinta Mazatlan. For more information visit www.quintamazatlan.com.
