Description
What is the Bessey Ranger District/Nursery Patch?
This embroidered patch from L.W. Bristol Classics represents the Bessey Ranger District, the Nebraska unit of the Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands managed out of Halsey, Nebraska. The patch features the tree that is grown on-site at the Charles E. Bessey Tree Nursery, the oldest seedling nursery operated by the USDA Forest Service.
L.W. Bristol Classics, based in Bristol, Tennessee, has been producing collectible pins and patches for parks and historic sites across the country for decades. This patch is made for BHPFA with official approval from Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands.
About the Bessey Ranger District and nursery
The Charles E. Bessey Nursery was established in 1902 as part of the Dismal River Forest Reserve, about one mile west of Halsey, Nebraska. It was created to grow the seedlings that planted the adjacent Bessey Ranger District, now the largest hand-planted forest in the United States at roughly 20,000 acres.
The nursery and ranger district are named for Charles E. Bessey, a botany professor at the University of Nebraska who convinced President Theodore Roosevelt that a planted forest on the Nebraska Sandhills would provide a viable timber reserve and allow for experimental tree planting on the Great Plains. The sandy soil and plentiful groundwater in the area turned out to be well-suited for seedling production. The nursery is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Today the nursery produces around 1.5 million bareroot conifer and hardwood seedlings per year, plus 1.6 to 1.9 million container seedlings in 49,000 square feet of greenhouses. Since 1926 it has supplied seedlings to the Nebraska Conservation Trees Program, which distributes trees to rural landowners across Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, and Kansas. The nursery is currently closed to public visitors.
Patch specifications
- Size: 2 1/2″ x 3 3/8″
- Weight: 0.2 oz
- Construction: Embroidered, iron-on backing
- Manufacturer: L.W. Bristol Classics (Bristol, TN)
- Approved by: Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands (USDA Forest Service)
Who is this for?
Visitors and fans of the Bessey Ranger District area who want a patch to mark the trip. The iron-on backing makes it easy to add to a hiking pack, jacket, hat, or any other fabric surface without sewing.
Collectors working through BHPFA’s full patch line. Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands is the least-visited of BHPFA’s six partner sites, which makes this patch a less common find than the Wind Cave or Jewel Cave versions. If you’re building a complete set, this one rounds out the collection.
Anyone who appreciates the specific history here. The Bessey Nursery is not a well-known landmark, but the story of planting a 20,000-acre forest from scratch on the open Nebraska Sandhills in 1902 is genuinely interesting. The patch is a small, low-cost way to carry a piece of that history.
Frequently asked questions
How do I attach the patch?
The patch has an iron-on heat-seal backing. Place it where you want it on any fabric, cover with a thin cloth, and press with a hot iron for 30 to 45 seconds. For extra durability, especially on items that get heavy use or frequent washing, a few hand stitches around the border will hold it permanently.
What is the Bessey Nursery?
The Charles E. Bessey Tree Nursery near Halsey, Nebraska is the oldest USDA Forest Service seedling nursery in the country. Established in 1902, it originally grew the trees used to plant the adjacent Bessey Ranger District, now the largest hand-planted forest in the United States. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The nursery is currently closed to the public but continues to produce seedlings for reforestation and conservation projects across the Great Plains.
What does the patch design show?
The design features a tree grown at the Bessey Nursery, referencing the site’s identity as a tree production and reforestation operation. It is approved by Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands.
Who makes this patch?
L.W. Bristol Classics, based in Bristol, Tennessee. They produce collectible pins, hiking medallions, and embroidered patches for national parks, forests, and historic sites across the country.
Is the Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands a BHPFA partner site?
Yes. Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands is one of six sites where BHPFA is the official nonprofit cooperating association. The others are Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Scotts Bluff National Monument, Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, and the Black Hills National Forest.
Does buying this support national parks and forests?
Yes. BHPFA is the official nonprofit partner of Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Scotts Bluff National Monument, and Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, as well as the Black Hills National Forest and Nebraska National Forests & Grasslands. Proceeds from every purchase support education programs, conservation projects, and visitor services at these sites.
Do BHPFA members get a discount on this patch?
Yes. BHPFA members save 15% with their member code at checkout. Membership is $30 per year.
More patches from BHPFA
- Jewel Cave Patch ($4.99)
- Jewel Cave Classic Patch ($4.99)
- National Grasslands Visitor Center Patch ($4.99)
- Smokey Bear Only You Patch ($4.99)
