Expanded role brings respected South Texas rancher and AgTech leader into company-wide growth strategy
MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EarthOptics today announced the promotion of James Clement III to Chief Growth Officer and President of Grass & Rangeland, expanding his leadership role as the company continues to grow the use of advanced soil intelligence across agriculture and working lands.
Clement has become a well-known voice at the intersection of ranching, agricultural technology, and land stewardship. A South Texas rancher from two multigenerational ranching families, he brings firsthand knowledge of the economic and operational realities facing producers, along with extensive experience in land management, natural resources, and emerging agricultural markets. Before joining EarthOptics, Clement served as Land Resource Manager for King Ranch, where he worked on renewable energy, carbon, oil and gas, and environmental projects. Clement also serves as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, bringing nearly two decades of military leadership experience to his work in agriculture and business.
At EarthOptics, Clement has helped bridge the gap between rapidly advancing agricultural technology and the realities of managing working ranches and grasslands. As both a technology executive and an active rancher, he brings a producer’s perspective to how soil intelligence can improve management decisions, strengthen land resilience, and open new revenue opportunities tied to stewardship.
“James brings a combination that is difficult to replicate: deep credibility with producers, firsthand understanding of working lands and a clear vision for how technology can create real economic value for landowners,” said Lars Dyrud, CEO of EarthOptics. “As EarthOptics grows, that perspective will be increasingly important not only to our grass and rangeland business, but to how we identify and build new opportunities across the company.”
In his expanded role as Chief Growth Officer, Clement will help drive EarthOptics broader growth strategy while continuing to lead its Grass & Rangeland business. The appointment reflects a growing focus on connecting soil intelligence with outcomes that matter to producers, from stronger land-management decisions to new markets and revenue opportunities tied to stewardship. Clement’s work will also focus on building partnerships across the agricultural industry, connecting producers, leading agricultural companies, conservation organizations, and technology partners around opportunities to strengthen America’s working lands.”
Clement’s leadership extends beyond EarthOptics. He is a governor-appointed member of the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and serves in leadership roles with organizations including Beggs Cattle Company, Ranchbot, the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, and the American Quarter Horse Association. “His own South Texas ranching operation, Bloody Buckets Cattle Company, was named the 2026 Region IV Environmental Stewardship Award Program winner by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association — recognition that reinforces a theme central to Clement’s work: stewardship and profitability do not have to compete, and better technology and measurement can help producers strengthen both. Clement holds an MBA from Cornell University and a bachelor’s degree from Goucher College.”
“Ranchers have always thought in generations,” Clement said. “The opportunity today is to pair that stewardship mindset with technology and better information so producers can understand what is happening on their land, make better decisions and create more options for the next generation.”
You can meet James and see him speak on behalf of EarthOptics technology at events this fall:
About EarthOptics
Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, EarthOptics harnesses advances in soil-sensing technologies, genomics, and data science to provide farmers and ranchers with deep, actionable insights into their soil’s chemical, physical, and biological properties. By blending cutting-edge laboratory analysis with industry-leading field-based sensors, we deliver powerful predictive insights that enable producers to optimize input use, improve soil health, increase yields, and unlock new opportunities in sustainable agriculture. EarthOptics is also the leading carbon measurement company in the U.S., supporting carbon market growth with accurate, verifiable soil data. The company has offices in Minneapolis, Minnesota; Raleigh, North Carolina; Emeryville, California; and Arlington, Virginia, with laboratories in Emeryville, California, and Memphis, Tennessee. Learn more at www.EarthOptics.com.
CONTACT: For Media Inquiries, Contact: Natalie McCracken Director of Marketing natalie.mccracken@earthoptics.com
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