1998 Tree Award for Keith-Arthur Counties

Greg and Peggy Gade

Lewellen, Nebraska

The Gade Ranch is located 9 miles east of Lewellen on Highway 92. Greg's parents purchased the land several years ago. Greg moved there after graduating from high school in 1980. He began ranching full-time with his father.

In 1983, He married Peggy Stockey. They made their home on the ranch and have lived there for the last 15 years. They have a twelve-year-old daugther named Tara and a ten-year-old son named Blake.

Throught the years, the Gages's have been involved in the planting and nutring of 2,281 trees, including Plum, Cedar, Juniper, Caragana, Ash, Austrian Pine, and Honeylocust.

Methods used for maintenance of the trees include 4,100 feet of Water Conservation Mulch, a Drip Irrigation System and Hand-Watering and Replanting as necessary. Greg also poisions gophers on a yearly basis. He feels it is very important to get rid of gophers before you plant trees, to ensure a better surrival rate.

Some of the reasons the Gades's started planting trees were for Livestock Protection and Wildlife Habitat. They also feel the trees have greatly increased the value of the land as well as creating a beautiful lanscape for the ranch.

Greg's father, the late Clinton Gade, and his wife, Velma played an inportant role in making the establishment of trees possible.

Greg, Peggy, and their children are active memebers of the United Methodist Church in Lewellen.