Award reflects love for land
Capital Electric - December 1, 2011
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Capital members Gaylen and Wanda Dewing were honored for their commitment to wildlife and the land. The couple has planted thousands of trees on their 1,000-plus acres southeast of Bismarck. |
On Nov. 10, Capital Electric members Gaylen and Wanda Dewing received the 2011 Burleigh County Soil Conservation District Tree Care Award during the district's annual ceremony. Sponsored by your electric cooperative, this annual award is given to people who do an outstanding job of caring for and maintaining their wildlife and conservation tree plots.
Gaylen bought his father's farm southeast of Bismarck in 1972. "We've been planting trees on our farm for many, many years," he describes. In 2007 Gaylen and Wanda planted roughly 7,000 fruit trees, evergreens and green ash. Last year, they planted a couple miles of pine and spruce trees around the farm and home.
"My dad instilled a love for the land and wildlife, so we've been doing shelterbelts and wildlife plantings ever since," he shares.
Gaylen and Wanda are both active with the farm and cattle. Galen also works part-time in town. The couple recently built a new home that utilizes a geothermal system for heating and cooling. Galen says they are very satisfied with the ground-source heat pump, and that, "It's the only way to go."