Bessey Ranger District and Nursery Pin
$7.00
In stock
Shipping calculated in cart/checkout:Â Shipping rates for first items start at $7, calculated based on weight of total order.
Die-cut enamel pin for the Bessey Ranger District, featuring a tree grown at the Charles E. Bessey Nursery. Made by L.W. Bristol Classics and approved by Nebraska National Forests & Grasslands.
- Size: 1″ x 3/4″ die cut
- Enameled metal with raised details and brushed finish reverse
- Tack pin back for hats, jackets, lanyards, and bags
- Comes on card (2 3/4″ x 5 1/2″)
- Proceeds support Nebraska National Forests & Grasslands and other BHPFA partner parks and forests.
In stock
60-day returns · Ships from South Dakota via USPS
Bessey Ranger District and Nursery Pin
$7.00
In stock
Shipping calculated in cart/checkout:Â Shipping rates for first items start at $7, calculated based on weight of total order.
Die-cut enamel pin for the Bessey Ranger District, featuring a tree grown at the Charles E. Bessey Nursery. Made by L.W. Bristol Classics and approved by Nebraska National Forests & Grasslands.
- Size: 1″ x 3/4″ die cut
- Enameled metal with raised details and brushed finish reverse
- Tack pin back for hats, jackets, lanyards, and bags
- Comes on card (2 3/4″ x 5 1/2″)
- Proceeds support Nebraska National Forests & Grasslands and other BHPFA partner parks and forests.
In stock
60-day returns · Ships from South Dakota via USPS
Real USPS rates, no markup. The money we save funds trail crews and internships.
Join BHPFA for $30 a year -> get your code by email in seconds. -> Use it at checkout today. Show your card at hundreds of nonprofit park stores nationwide for 10% off.
Every item is selected or approved by rangers and staff. Your purchase keeps them on the front lines.
Real USPS rates, no markup. The money we save funds trail crews and internships.
Join BHPFA for $30 a year -> get your code by email in seconds. -> Use it at checkout today. Show your card at hundreds of nonprofit park stores nationwide for 10% off.
Every item is selected or approved by rangers and staff. Your purchase keeps them on the front lines.
Description
What is this pin?
A die-cut enamel pin for the Bessey Ranger District of the Nebraska National Forests & Grasslands, made by L.W. Bristol Classics. The design depicts a tree grown at the on-site Charles E. Bessey Nursery, a nod to what makes this district unlike any other national forest in the country. The reverse has a brushed metal finish. Nebraska National Forests & Grasslands approved the design.
The Bessey Ranger District is in Halsey, Nebraska, in the heart of the Sandhills. The forest itself is entirely hand-planted, making it the largest human-made forest in the Western Hemisphere. Picking up a pin from the nursery that started it all is a logical souvenir.
About the Charles E. Bessey Nursery
The Charles E. Bessey Nursery was established in 1902 as part of the Dismal River Forest Reserve. It is the oldest seedling nursery managed by the USDA Forest Service, and it is the reason this forest exists at all.
Dr. Charles E. Bessey was a professor of botany at the University of Nebraska. With backing from Gifford Pinchot (the first Chief of the Forest Service) and President Theodore Roosevelt, Bessey convinced the government to set aside two treeless tracts of Nebraska Sandhills as forest reserves. His idea: grow trees on the open prairie and prove it could be done. Crews spent decades planting by hand across nearly 30,000 acres. The result is a ponderosa pine forest where none existed before.
Today the nursery produces around 1.5 million bare-root conifer and hardwood seedlings per year. Seedlings go to the forest itself and to conservation tree programs serving rural landowners in Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, and Kansas. Visiting the nursery is free and open to the public.
Specifications
- Size: 1″ x 3/4″
- Shape: Die cut
- Weight: 0.2 oz (pin only)
- Construction: Enameled metal with raised details
- Reverse: Brushed metal finish
- Backing: Tack pin
- Packaging: Mounted on card (2 3/4″ x 5 1/2″)
- Manufacturer: L.W. Bristol Classics (Bristol, TN)
About the Bessey Ranger District
The Bessey Ranger District covers about 90,000 acres of the Nebraska Sandhills near Halsey. Every tree in the district was planted by hand, a project that began in the early 1900s and continued through the mid-20th century with help from the Civilian Conservation Corps. By any count, it is the largest hand-planted forest in the Western Hemisphere (a federal program in China’s Tibetan Plateau later surpassed it globally, but the Bessey District holds the Western Hemisphere title).
The recreation complex at Halsey has campgrounds, a swimming area, disc golf, and hiking trails. The Middle Loup River runs nearby. The nursery sits adjacent to the recreation area and is easy to walk through on a visit.
Who is this for?
Visitors to Halsey. If you camped in the Sandhills, walked the nursery rows, or just drove through and wanted something to mark the stop, this is the right size and price for that.
Nebraska forest fans. The Bessey District has a specific story: it should not exist, and it does anyway. The pin is a small nod to that. People who know the history tend to appreciate that angle.
Gift buyers. On a presentation card, it pairs well with the Bessey Ranger District/Nursery Patch for anyone with a connection to the district.
Frequently asked questions
What does the pin design show? The pin depicts a tree grown at the Charles E. Bessey Nursery, the on-site nursery that has been producing tree seedlings since 1902. The nursery is the origin point of the entire Bessey Ranger District forest.
How big is the pin? 1 inch tall by 3/4 inch wide, die cut to the shape of the design. Slightly larger than a standard round lapel pin.
Is this a soft enamel or hard enamel pin? Enameled metal with raised details. The current page does not specify soft vs. hard enamel. Contact BHPFA at [email protected] if you need that detail before ordering.
How do I attach it? It has a tack pin back. Push the post through fabric, then slide the clutch on to hold it. Works on hats, lapels, backpack straps, lanyards, and vests.
Is there a matching patch? Yes. BHPFA carries the Bessey Ranger District/Nursery Patch with a related design for jackets, bags, and hats.
What other Nebraska forest pins does BHPFA carry? Browse the full pin collection. BHPFA carries pins for partner sites including Scotts Bluff National Monument, Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, and the Black Hills National Forest.
Does buying this support public lands? 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.
Related items
Every Purchase Makes a Difference
When you shop with Black Hills Parks & Forests Association, you are directly funding:
- Education programs — nature workshops, Junior Ranger activities, and homeschool adventures for kids across the Black Hills
- Trail maintenance — keeping hiking trails safe and accessible at Wind Cave, Jewel Cave, and the Black Hills National Forest
- Visitor services — park store operations, interpretive programs, and the staff who help millions of visitors each year
- Conservation — supporting the long-term health of public lands in the Black Hills and Nebraska
BHPFA is the official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service in the Black Hills region. We have supported these public lands since 1946.
Additional information
| Weight | 1 oz |
|---|---|
| Brand | L.W. Bristol Classics |
| Dimensions | 1" x 3/4" |
| Weight | 0.2 oz |
| Material | Enameled Metal |
Note on International Orders
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