In 1959, University of Nebraska, Lincoln (UNL) Forestry Assoc. Professor Walter Thaine Bagley and wife Virginia purchased the 145 acre row crop farm with a 10 acre native prairie, that is now the Prairie Pines Nature Preserve. They transformed the farm to woodlands, windbreaks, grassland and wildlife habitat with diverse trees, an arboretum and reclaimed grassland. It became the first "choose-and-cut" Christmas tree farm, the first home for Raptor Recovery, and the first Conservation Easement in Nebraska. Prairie Pines Partners was created by Walt Bagley to facilitate he and his wife Virginia’s vision for the long-term stewardship of their property.