Southern Finalist: Hanna Gamble of Louisiana

What makes them outstanding?

Nestled between Logansport and Longstreet in northwest Louisiana, St. Lucia Plantation is comprised of approximately 1,833 contiguous acres of land and is a shining example of the Gamble family’s vision, hard work, and determination. The Gamble family has created a unique parcel which has been managed to promote timber production, recreation, wildlife habitat, and biodiversity.  At only 30 years of age, Hanna shows commitment to cultivating and improving her family’s timber farm while practicing good stewardship.

Hanna’s dedication to her farm, nature, and her community make her outstanding.  Guided by this dedication, Hanna and her mother Carol developed a mission statement for their farm, We strive to enrich our community though mindful and natural horsemanship, land stewardship and farming practices.  

Community is a paramount concept in the Gamble family mission statement. Hanna understands that she is simply a steward of land that belongs to everyone.  Hanna manages her land in such a way as to reap the most benefit for both the land and surrounding community.

Hanna spends much of her time participating in nonprofit organizations. The Louisiana Forestry Association, Texas Forestry Association, Forest Landowners Association, and National Association of Royalty Owners all have direct ties to the forestry community but Hanna’s dedication to organizations that promote the advancement of special needs children and individuals make her truly inspirational.  She has memberships to various horsemanship organizations that allow her to combine her passion for horses and love of children to provide a therapeutic bonding experience for people and animals.

Tree Farmer Story 

The Gamble Family tree farm began when Hanna’s grandfather, Jack Sr., purchased 160-acres north of Logansport in 1939.  During her grandfather’s time as steward, a one room wooden farmhouse was moved to the property and a pond was constructed. Although Jack Sr. recognized his vision for an outdoor retreat during his lifetime, he could not know the multigenerational influence he was establishing.

Hanna’s father, Jack Jr., was introduced to the importance of proper land stewardship on the family farm and he passed those lessons onto his daughter. Although Jack Jr.’s career as an oil and gas attorney in Mansfield took him away from day to day farm activities, he never lost his passion for the outdoors. Jack Jr. continued to focus his efforts on improving the land he was endowed and growing the family farm. Over forty years, Jack acquired numerous adjacent parcels and grew the farm to over 1,800 acres.

While continuing to increase the acreage of the farm, Jack never lost sight of the importance of maintaining a healthy, well-managed forestland investment.  Jack and his wife Carol wanted Hanna to appreciate the beauty of the property and understand the benefits that could be obtained through proper forest management. Jack frequently told Hanna, You will be a tree farmer and the land will provide. To stimulate her interest, Jack presented Hanna with a lifetime membership to the Louisiana Forestry Association (LFA) when she was nine years old.  At that time, Hanna became the youngest lifetime member of the LFA.  Jack was instrumental in giving Hanna a hands-on approach to proper forest management.  Through the years, it was common to see Jack and Hanna at reforestation activities, timber harvesting operations, mid-rotation stand improvement, and maintenance undertakings.  At a very early age, Jack had Hanna assist in the hand planting of a pine plantation on the farm.  That stand continues to be known as Hanna’s plantation. 20 years later, her father’s prediction about Hanna becoming a tree farmer has come true. In 2017, Hanna was named the Louisiana Forestry Association’s Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year for her forestry and land stewardship.

To further her commitment to assisting in the day to day operations of the family investments, Hanna pursued a business degree at Tulane University.  Unfortunately, she was not able to finish her degree before the farm and her family needed her. While at school, Hanna received notice that her father’s health was declining and that the farm was in danger.  In the fall of 2010, at the age of 22, Hanna was presented with the task of having to leave college and save the family farm.  She shed tears as she said goodbye to carefree college days and embraced the full responsibility of a working farm.

Hanna sought council from her trusted friends at Muslow Forestry and together they came up with a detailed management plan in January of 2011 to get the farm back on track.  The plan consisted of: 

1. Reclaiming the forest trails to increase survey/logging/recreation access.
2. Identifying and mapping all timber stands and implementing a harvest schedule.
3. Identify and preserve wildlife habitats and SMZ’s.
4. Using new technology to be a better farmer (Drone flights, Implementation of Geographical Information System, and Installation of Camera Systems).
5. Mapping and naming farm roads.
6. Maintaining silvicultural needs.

Once her management plan was in place Hanna, returned to Tulane University in the Spring of 2012 to finish her business degree.  Hanna graduated in the Spring of 2013 with a Bachelor of Science in Management and a minor in legal studies.  Fortunately, Hanna’s father was well enough to make the journey to see her walk across the stage and receive her diploma. Later that year Jack passed away peacefully in his sleep. 

Since taking over as co-manager with Carol, Hanna has put her business and managerial skills to good use.  Rather than sit back and reap the rewards of the hard work of her mother and father, Hanna has chosen to continue the tradition of actively improving the condition of the land which she is now responsible for. While managing her land, Hanna always thoroughly investigates issues, seeks advice and direction, and confidently makes her own decisions.

One such decision was made in 2015 with the purchase of a 174.6-acre parcel of land in Benton, LA. At the time of the purchase, the land consisted of a neglected cow farm in desperate need of attention.  Hanna immediately set out to revitalize the property and turn it into an equestrian paradise.  This new parcel that Hanna named Eightfold Farms (EF) is more centrally located than SLP.  This location has afforded Hanna many opportunities to partner with the local community to get people outside to learn about agriculture. 

Today, both farms continue to be works in progress.  Over the past few years, Hanna restored and upgraded the original farmhouse at SLP, expanded the lake area to combat drainage issues, and purchased a bulldozer and forestry mulcher for maintaining the road/trail system and establishing fire breaks throughout the farm.  Hanna was also able to utilize her new equipment at EF where she used the bulldozer and mulcher to reclaim numerous acres of neglected farmland.  This reclaimed land has allowed Hanna to develop a complex trail system that includes a gallop path with breathtaking views of the Red River. 

Hanna’s passion for the outdoors is contagious. By utilizing social media and the Greaux Local slogan that she created, Hanna is able to bring support and awareness to local farmers, promote sustainable forestry, and share her own farming progress. This virtual presence is an invaluable marketing tool and is the key to engaging the next generation of foresters and farmers.

Hanna is a leader and an ambassador for the LFA, American Tree Farm System, and sustainable forestry practices. Her dedication to her forest, farm, and her community is admirable and she embodies what it means to be a Outstanding Tree Farmer.

Describe any outreach on behalf of sustainable forestry that the Tree Farmer has done 

Hanna demonstrates her passion for nature and the outdoors by giving back to the community and ensuring that others are able to advance in the forestry industry.  She accomplishes this by providing scholarships to promote sustainable forestry and land management.

The scholarships Hanna provides include:

1. Jack R. Gamble Jr. Land and Mineral Rights Scholarship “ LSU Law School (Endowed and $10,000 annual award to recipient)
2. Stephen E. Muslow Forestry Scholarship - SFA
3. Stephen E. Muslow Forestry Scholarship - LFA (Endowed and $1,200 annual award)

In addition to promoting forestry and land management education at higher learning institutions, Hanna also opens her farms to the community for outdoor education opportunities.  Earlier this year Hanna worked with the local chamber of commerce to set up a Spring Fling event complete with ice cream, horseshoe contest, and hay rides free for all members of the military and their families.

Hanna is a newly elected member of the LFA board. She is one of only nine females currently serving and the youngest female board member to serve.  Hanna is also a member of the Bossier Parish Rotary Club where she represents the forestry industry in all her volunteer activities. One of Hanna’s favorite programs in her club is the Dictionary Drop, where members provide and distribute dictionaries (all made from trees) to every third grader in Bossier Parish. Since 2006, when the program first began, they have donated more than 25,600 dictionaries!

For the following areas describe how the landowner's management addresses it 

Wood: The bumper sticker that reads, Wood is good on Hanna’s truck embodies how she feels about this natural resource and Hanna’s forest management style clearly reflects these feelings. The woods at St. Lucia plantation demonstrate varying terrain, timber stand age classes, and forest products including pre-merchantable pine plantations, pulpwood, and sawtimber. Much of the wooded acreage is planted Loblolly Pine ranging from seedlings to large diameter saw logs. Hardwood bottoms are located throughout the property and left untouched to ensure a safe habitat for the local wildlife as well as promoting clean streams and safe, usable waterways.

Hanna has a clear understanding that wood is one of the few renewable, natural resources.  While it is important to reap the economic rewards of selling timber, Hanna recognizes the importance of sustainability.  The loggers that harvest timber on the Gamble property are properly vetted and maintain Master Logger Certification.  All harvesting operations strictly follow the guidelines stipulated in the state approved Best Management Practices.  Furthermore, all timber sold off the Gamble’s land is delivered only to wood utilizing facilities that adhere to SFI (Sustainable Forestry Initiative) guidelines. Post harvesting audits are performed by Muslow Forestry, Inc, the Gamble’s own consulting firm, as well as the wood mills to ensure that harvesting activities were performed in a professional manner.

One of Hanna’s greatest desires is to leave her property to future generations in better condition than she received it.  This point is reflected in the attention Hanna pays towards necessary reforestation on her timberland.  Reforestation techniques employed on the Gamble property include mechanical site preparation, chemical site preparation, site preparation burns, the planting of genetically improved seedlings, and chemical herbaceous and woody control.  Reforestation is one aspect in which Hanna spares no expense to ensure she has the most healthy, viable plantation possible. 

Water: Water quality and availability are of upmost concern to Hanna at both of her properties.   On both farms, Hanna has taken important steps to ensure that water is readily available for use and is utilized in a clean, responsible manner.

On St. Lucia Plantation (SLP), the first step in maintaining water quality was to establish permanent streamside management zones (SMZ’s) along all streams and tributaries transecting the Gamble property. These SMZ’s provide overall biodiversity for the property, contribute to the enhancement of wildlife habitat, and serve as natural filters that collect and restrict potentially harmful runoff and debris from reaching the waterways.  Harvesting operations within these SMZ’s are held to minimal levels, only removing those trees necessary to maintain the overall health of the forest.  

Additionally, on SLP, Hanna has significantly improved the size and quality of a pond initially dug by her grandfather, Jack Sr.  Upon taking over management of SLP, Hanna wished to reclaim this pond located directly adjacent to the farmhouse.  The years had been rough on the pond, and it was necessary to mulch brush surrounding the waterbody, deepen the pond itself, encompass additional acreage, and sure up a weakened dam.  Today, the newly improved pond serves as an excellent source of recreation with swimming and fishing opportunities.

As important as water is at SLP, water quality at Eightfold Farm (EF) is an equal concern.  In addition to the numerous lakes that exist at EF, the property also supports streams, watersheds permanently inundated with water, and direct frontage along the Red River (a federally controlled navigable waterway).  In recent months, Hanna has dug a new pond at EF for not the only the purpose of recreation, but more importantly as an additional source of potable water for her livestock. 

Wildlife including threatened and endangered species: Wildlife is an important aspect when considering the long-term goals and objectives Hanna has established for SLP.  While timber cultivation and ongoing oil and gas operations play more central roles in the management plan developed for SLP, Hanna has always emphasized her desire to maintain encourage the development of wildlife habitat on her property.  This development has come in the form creating SMZ’s, establishing numerous food plots, maintaining improved pasture land, and continually cleaning/bush hogging trails located throughout SLP.  Through her efforts, the property currently supports healthy populations of deer, quail, hogs, snakes, skunks, birds, beavers, foxes, and coyotes among others.

To know Hanna is to know her love and affection for all creatures in the animal kingdom.  While her horses hold a special place in her heart, EF also boasts a healthy stable of miniature cows, goats, dogs, cats, and the occasional uninvited alligator.  During a recent inspection at EF, it was discovered that a family of bald eagles have taken up residence in a large, mature pine tree located directly adjacent to the Red River.  The birds are thriving at EF, and Hanna has taken immediate steps to ensure that their habitat is not disturbed.

Overall, the importance Hanna places on the wildlife living on her farms is contagious to those around her.  Her desire to ensure their safety and security is not only recognized in the way she manages her property, but more importantly in her desire to teach others the significance of having an environmentally friendly habitat available to all living creatures.

Recreation and Aesthetics including special sites: While tree farming and mineral exploration are the primary drivers of the overall management plan for SLP, much can be said about Hanna’s desire to utilize the property for its recreational and aesthetic benefits.  As previously stated, the farm was initially begun by Jack Sr., who moved a one-bedroom wooden farmhouse to his recently acquired land.  Over the years, both Jack Jr. and Hanna have made additions and renovations to the structure.  The latest renovation was completed in 2016 and incorporated wood reclaimed from the original barn located at SLP. 

SLP provides numerous opportunities for those who wish to indulge in outdoor recreation activities.  The improved pond provides an excellent source for both fishing and swimming.  Many of Hanna’s employees enjoy the property, especially the pond.  Two of the employee’s children recently caught their first fish while attending one of the many company parties held at SLP. 

The maintained trail system throughout SLP provides access to the most remote areas of the property.  Whether venturing out on horseback or taking advantage of one of the many all-terrain vehicles located at SLP, trail rides bring visitors closer to the beauty and pristine nature of the forest.

One activity that SLP offers to the true outdoorsman is the ability to hunt a wide variety of game, throughout various timber stand types.  To ensure that there is a healthy wildlife population, Hanna only allows hunting on approximately 35 percent of the overall acreage.

In 2017, Hanna constructed two horse corrals at SLP in preparation for expanding her equine therapy activities to include that location.  Hanna has plans to construct a sensory nature trail that will utilize her forest, complete with tree identification games.