Bethany Love’s dedication to conserving land in East Tennessee shines through, as she reflects on the property she lives on with her husband Chad and their family. “It’s a resource that cannot be replaced,” she says. “At our core, we believe we cannot live a truly full life without being connected to the land – both literally and spiritually. Being able to protect our little portion of it and be the good stewards we’re called to be is one of our greatest honors and privileges.”

This property is special because of its biodiversity, wildlife habitat, natural beauty, and the family history it holds now. Bethany’s father bought the land in the early 70’s, and now his grandkids are enjoying the fruits of this investment over the decades. The bank didn’t want to provide a loan for the original farmhouse and 40 acres, considering it “junk and not worth anything.” But Bethany’s father talked the bank into it, started a Christmas tree farm and nursery, and paid the mortgage off in ten years.

The property is split down the middle by Gribble Road, which was the railroad bed around the turn of the 20th century for one of the logging routes that spanned what is now Tellico Lake.  As kids, Bethany and her friends would find clinkers (the remainders of burned coal cinders) along the road. They also found the remnants of a moonshine still in a holler. An elderly neighbor once spoke of the railroad trestle that went across Gribble road, saying it was the highest bridge he’d ever seen (about 40 feet), and remembering the old men sitting beside it, smoking pipes and watching the train go by.

Bethany reflects, “When I was a kid, there wasn’t much wildlife here – maybe just some possums, raccoons, and rabbits.  I didn’t see the first deer on the property until the late 90s.  Now, with statewide success in wildlife management, plus some of our own land management, we now have the full spectrum of wildlife on our land – from turkeys, to bears, to bobcats, to deer, and everything in between. It’s been our family’s greatest joy to see the land become healthy and whole again.”

She comes by this passion and joy honestly. Bethany’s father is Billy Minser.

Since the purchase of the property that Bethany and Chad now live on, Billy continued to purchase and add parcels when he had the opportunity. Today, their little Gribble Road has 266 acres protected forever (with more neighbors still considering conservation easements on their own land). Bethany and Chad know that the population explosion in Blount County and the region makes land conservation even more critical. “It’s now or never,” Bethany says. “I want landowners to know that there’s still flexibility in use, ownership, and management when land is protected with an easement, but also to understand that what we have here is special and cannot be replaced once it’s been developed.”

Bethany doesn’t recall a part of her own life when FLC’s mission wasn’t in it. When she was 15, she spoke in front of the Blount County Commission to get more support to preserve what is now Foothills Wildlife Management Area. Chad has developed his own passion for conservation and now serves of the FLC Board of Directors. When asked why FLC is worthy of support, Bethany said “FLC gets it! And cares! And takes its responsibility to the land and landowners seriously, managing easements with diligence and care. The organization makes land protection possible for those of us who understand and deeply value our connection to the land, and help things happen that would otherwise be impossible for just one person or one family to do. And even if you don’t have property, FLC offers ways to act, get involved, and help protect what makes our region so special.”