Gates Family Farm Easement Preserves Family Legacy
The Gates Family Farm, in the Bitterroot River watershed, was recently protected by an Agricultural Land Easement in partnership with the Bitter Root Land Trust, Ravalli County Open Lands Bond program, and the USDA NRCS.
Story courtesy Bitter Root Land Trust.
“We would love to see the land kept intact and farmed long into the future.” - Gates Family
The Gates Family decided to conserve their property in order to honor and preserve their family’s legacy of agricultural production, wildlife habitat, Three Mile Creek, and the scenic open views it provides.
Over the years, the 160-acre farm has grown various crops including grass, alfalfa hay, beets, potatoes, oats, wheat, barley, and peas. The Gates’ also raised dairy cows and pigs for many years. Important soils, classified as “prime farmland if irrigated” and “farmland of local importance,” are on 100% of the Gates Family Farm.
Stream, wetland and riparian habitats associated with Three Mile Creek support a variety of species, including westslope cutthroat trout, evening grosbeak, great blue heron, Clark’s nutcracker, Lewis’ woodpecker, and pileated woodpecker. Conservation of these habitats protect the ecological integrity and functions of the Three Mile Creek drainage, the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge, and the Bitterroot River watershed.
Bitter Root Land Trust is grateful to our partners at USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service for supporting the project through the Agricultural Land Easements program, and pleased to receive $150,000 in local matching funds through the Ravalli County Open Lands Bond program.
As we count the ways the Gates Family Farm protects the soils, wildlife habitat, and the local watershed, it’s also important to note what this means to the Gates family.
As Sam Gates puts it, “We grew up here and farmed it until our individual professions called us. We all have such great memories of this land: walking through five-foot-tall grass hay, laying out in the open watching the stars, playing games and chasing each other all over the whole place. The two most special things were the view of the Bitterroot Mountains and playing in and around Three Mile Creek.”
It means the family memories will not only live on in their hearts, but also in the grass hay, the creek, and the scenic views.