Amy Nakai doesn’t take any shortcuts.
A runner since 2014, she’s found 26-mile marathons aren't enough of a challenge. One-hundred mile endurance runs are more her speed.
As one of the owners of Rooted Tree Specialists, she’s not just sitting behind a desk directing operations.
“I am out in the trenches,†she said.
She’s not the only woman in the area who owns a tree care company, but said what sets her apart is that she drives the trucks, does chainsaw work and can run the rigging ropes. Business partner Jeron Sundberg is the climber.
Rooted Tree Specialists co-owner Amy Nakai is also a member of the Gretna city tree board.
LILY SMITH, THE WORLD-HERALD
She’s found that ultramarathons and tree work combine two loves.
“I love the trails,†she said. “The trees are ever changing. Every time you run, something new is popping up. Something new is changing.â€
Nakai, a married mother of two, worked several different jobs, including a few in the tree business, before she decided to start her own company last fall.
She earned an arborist license from the Nebraska Arborist Association. She has a pesticide license as well, she said, so she can treat trees responsibly and organically. She also has a commercial driver's license.
She said she loves meeting clients and working with them on their goals for their property. No one has seemed surprised that a woman co-owns the business.
Rooted Tree Specialists co-owner Amy Nakai of Gretna isn’t the office kind of executive. On the job, she drives trucks, does chainsaw work and can run the rigging ropes. And in her spare time, she runs ultramarathons.
LILY SMITH, THE WORLD-HERALD
“It really does mean a lot to me that I build the relationships with the clients long-term,†Nakai said. “I set our motto, 'Rooted in the Community,' for the community as our center. I’m not here just to make a dollar. I’m here for the trees and community long-term.â€
Listen now and subscribe: | | | |
Elaine Stough of Bellevue said she was impressed with the work done in her yard. Nakai’s company was reasonable, on time and cleaned up.
For Stough, the mother of three daughters, it was a bonus to work with a woman owner. She’s been in charge of scheduling work done around the family home for years.
“Sometimes guys come here and don’t think we have brains in our head and talk down to us,†Stough said. “I liked that she was very clear and concise, told us everything and was so easy to talk to. She’s our tree person from here on out.â€
Nakai's fascination with trees isn’t just limited to her business. She’s also a member of the Gretna city tree board, and wrote and was awarded NRD grants to see that more trees are being planted where she lives.
Trees increase property values, provide shade to cut energy usage, supply oxygen and habitat for wildlife and help save turf from the blistering Nebraska sun.
But there are intangibles, too.
Rooted Tree Specialists owner Amy Nakai talks to co-owner Jeron Sundberg from the truck. She has a commercial driver's license.
LILY SMITH, THE WORLD-HERALD
“Trees provide a playground for kids to climb, a fort, a kingdom for kids to create stories and memories. The amount of times my kids are playing in our maple tree out back building endless memories makes me smile every single time I see them climbing,†she said. “Planting trees provides a memory for those who've lost loved ones. They carry on their memories and help heal broken hearts for those grieving.â€
Nakai’s focus on community follows the example set by her parents, Dave and Linda Dunlap. She started early — she jokes that she had a long list of volunteer activities at Bellevue West before going to Peru State for college.
Her tree work, helping with the Greater Omaha Area Trail Runners organization, serving the City of Gretna and being on the advisory board of Smile Train, the world’s largest cleft palate charity, keep her busy and happy.
“I absolutely love what I do,†she said. “I’m the luckiest person in the world.â€
Most rural counties in Nebraska
Most rural counties in Nebraska
A surprising number of U.S. counties have 100% rural land-702, in fact. compiled a list of the most rural counties in Nebraska using data from the . Counties are ranked by the percent of land area that is rural, as of the 2010 Census, with ties broken by residents per square mile, according to 2019 5-year population estimates.
According to the Census Bureau, rural land encompasses any land that isn't an urban area. To be considered an urban area, a place has to have a densely settled core of census tracts or blocks and count at least 2,500 people, at least 1,500 of whom must be residents of non-institutional buildings. Areas with 50,000 people or more are considered urbanized areas, while areas with between 2,500 and 50,000 people are considered urban clusters.
You may also like:
Zack Frank // Shutterstock
#50. Burt County
- Rural area: 100.0% (492 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 492 square miles
--- #76 largest county in state, #2,114 nationwide
- Population density: 13.2 people / square mile (6,510 residents)
--- #59 lowest density county in state, #679 nationwide
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
#49. Pierce County
- Rural area: 100.0% (573 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 573 square miles
--- #52 largest county in state, #1,745 nationwide
- Population density: 12.5 people / square mile (7,144 residents)
--- #56 lowest density county in state, #649 nationwide
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
#48. Dixon County
- Rural area: 100.0% (476 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 476 square miles
--- #78 largest county in state, #2,165 nationwide
- Population density: 12.0 people / square mile (5,719 residents)
--- #55 lowest density county in state, #636 nationwide
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
#47. Polk County
- Rural area: 100.0% (438 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 438 square miles
--- #83 largest county in state, #2,309 nationwide
- Population density: 11.9 people / square mile (5,225 residents)
--- #54 lowest density county in state, #632 nationwide
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
#46. Cedar County
- Rural area: 100.0% (740 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 740 square miles
--- #31 largest county in state, #1,192 nationwide
- Population density: 11.5 people / square mile (8,498 residents)
--- #53 lowest density county in state, #618 nationwide
You may also like:
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
#45. Howard County
- Rural area: 100.0% (569 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 569 square miles
--- #62 largest county in state, #1,786 nationwide
- Population density: 11.3 people / square mile (6,417 residents)
--- #52 lowest density county in state, #614 nationwide
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
#44. Clay County
- Rural area: 100.0% (572 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 572 square miles
--- #55 largest county in state, #1,755 nationwide
- Population density: 10.8 people / square mile (6,203 residents)
--- #51 lowest density county in state, #602 nationwide
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
#43. Fillmore County
- Rural area: 100.0% (575 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 575 square miles
--- #46 largest county in state, #1,724 nationwide
- Population density: 9.6 people / square mile (5,547 residents)
--- #49 lowest density county in state, #564 nationwide
The Crumpled Pamphlet // Wikimedia Commons
#42. Thayer County
- Rural area: 100.0% (574 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 574 square miles
--- #51 largest county in state, #1,741 nationwide
- Population density: 8.8 people / square mile (5,057 residents)
--- #48 lowest density county in state, #528 nationwide
Jared Winkler // Wikimedia Commons
#41. Nance County
- Rural area: 100.0% (442 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 442 square miles
--- #81 largest county in state, #2,300 nationwide
- Population density: 8.0 people / square mile (3,544 residents)
--- #46 lowest density county in state, #492 nationwide
You may also like:
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
#40. Boone County
- Rural area: 100.0% (687 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 687 square miles
--- #41 largest county in state, #1,365 nationwide
- Population density: 7.7 people / square mile (5,279 residents)
--- #45 lowest density county in state, #477 nationwide
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
#39. Knox County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,108 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,108 square miles
--- #12 largest county in state, #569 nationwide
- Population density: 7.6 people / square mile (8,426 residents)
--- #44 lowest density county in state, #475 nationwide
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
#38. Valley County
- Rural area: 100.0% (568 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 568 square miles
--- #64 largest county in state, #1,798 nationwide
- Population density: 7.4 people / square mile (4,206 residents)
--- #42 lowest density county in state, #467 nationwide
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
#37. Antelope County
- Rural area: 100.0% (857 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 857 square miles
--- #24 largest county in state, #969 nationwide
- Population density: 7.4 people / square mile (6,341 residents)
--- #41 lowest density county in state, #466 nationwide
J. Stephen Conn // Flickr
#36. Nuckolls County
- Rural area: 100.0% (575 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 575 square miles
--- #48 largest county in state, #1,728 nationwide
- Population density: 7.4 people / square mile (4,244 residents)
--- #40 lowest density county in state, #465 nationwide
You may also like:
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
#35. Furnas County
- Rural area: 100.0% (719 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 719 square miles
--- #34 largest county in state, #1,248 nationwide
- Population density: 6.6 people / square mile (4,747 residents)
--- #39 lowest density county in state, #437 nationwide
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
#34. Harlan County
- Rural area: 100.0% (553 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 553 square miles
--- #68 largest county in state, #1,882 nationwide
- Population density: 6.2 people / square mile (3,415 residents)
--- #37 lowest density county in state, #417 nationwide
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
#33. Webster County
- Rural area: 100.0% (575 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 575 square miles
--- #49 largest county in state, #1,732 nationwide
- Population density: 6.2 people / square mile (3,537 residents)
--- #36 lowest density county in state, #414 nationwide
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
#32. Pawnee County
- Rural area: 100.0% (431 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 431 square miles
--- #84 largest county in state, #2,356 nationwide
- Population density: 6.1 people / square mile (2,649 residents)
--- #35 lowest density county in state, #413 nationwide
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
#31. Sherman County
- Rural area: 100.0% (566 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 566 square miles
--- #65 largest county in state, #1,811 nationwide
- Population density: 5.4 people / square mile (3,033 residents)
--- #34 lowest density county in state, #385 nationwide
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
#30. Franklin County
- Rural area: 100.0% (576 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 576 square miles
--- #45 largest county in state, #1,720 nationwide
- Population density: 5.2 people / square mile (2,987 residents)
--- #33 lowest density county in state, #375 nationwide
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
#29. Gosper County
- Rural area: 100.0% (458 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 458 square miles
--- #79 largest county in state, #2,239 nationwide
- Population density: 4.4 people / square mile (2,013 residents)
--- #32 lowest density county in state, #341 nationwide
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
#28. Chase County
- Rural area: 100.0% (894 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 894 square miles
--- #21 largest county in state, #876 nationwide
- Population density: 4.2 people / square mile (3,783 residents)
--- #31 lowest density county in state, #326 nationwide
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
#27. Greeley County
- Rural area: 100.0% (570 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 570 square miles
--- #60 largest county in state, #1,782 nationwide
- Population density: 4.2 people / square mile (2,382 residents)
--- #28 lowest density county in state, #320 nationwide
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
#26. Deuel County
- Rural area: 100.0% (440 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 440 square miles
--- #82 largest county in state, #2,305 nationwide
- Population density: 4.2 people / square mile (1,831 residents)
--- #27 lowest density county in state, #317 nationwide
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
#25. Hitchcock County
- Rural area: 100.0% (710 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 710 square miles
--- #40 largest county in state, #1,291 nationwide
- Population density: 4.0 people / square mile (2,815 residents)
--- #26 lowest density county in state, #306 nationwide
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
#24. Kimball County
- Rural area: 100.0% (952 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 952 square miles
--- #19 largest county in state, #736 nationwide
- Population density: 3.8 people / square mile (3,633 residents)
--- #25 lowest density county in state, #291 nationwide
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
#23. Boyd County
- Rural area: 100.0% (540 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 540 square miles
--- #72 largest county in state, #1,935 nationwide
- Population density: 3.6 people / square mile (1,937 residents)
--- #24 lowest density county in state, #275 nationwide
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
#22. Garfield County
- Rural area: 100.0% (570 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 570 square miles
--- #61 largest county in state, #1,783 nationwide
- Population density: 3.5 people / square mile (2,001 residents)
--- #23 lowest density county in state, #272 nationwide
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
#21. Morrill County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,424 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,424 square miles
--- #8 largest county in state, #422 nationwide
- Population density: 3.4 people / square mile (4,781 residents)
--- #22 lowest density county in state, #261 nationwide
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
#20. Perkins County
- Rural area: 100.0% (883 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 883 square miles
--- #22 largest county in state, #904 nationwide
- Population density: 3.3 people / square mile (2,901 residents)
--- #21 lowest density county in state, #255 nationwide
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
#19. Frontier County
- Rural area: 100.0% (975 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 975 square miles
--- #17 largest county in state, #714 nationwide
- Population density: 2.7 people / square mile (2,640 residents)
--- #20 lowest density county in state, #217 nationwide
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
#18. Brown County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,221 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,221 square miles
--- #10 largest county in state, #501 nationwide
- Population density: 2.5 people / square mile (3,015 residents)
--- #19 lowest density county in state, #194 nationwide
Jasperdo // Flickr
#17. Sheridan County
- Rural area: 100.0% (2,441 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 2,441 square miles
--- #4 largest county in state, #223 nationwide
- Population density: 2.1 people / square mile (5,231 residents)
--- #18 lowest density county in state, #164 nationwide
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
#16. Dundy County
- Rural area: 100.0% (920 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 920 square miles
--- #20 largest county in state, #797 nationwide
- Population density: 2.1 people / square mile (1,913 residents)
--- #17 lowest density county in state, #161 nationwide
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
#15. Logan County
- Rural area: 100.0% (571 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 571 square miles
--- #57 largest county in state, #1,771 nationwide
- Population density: 1.6 people / square mile (927 residents)
--- #16 lowest density county in state, #121 nationwide
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
#14. Rock County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,008 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,008 square miles
--- #16 largest county in state, #670 nationwide
- Population density: 1.4 people / square mile (1,414 residents)
--- #15 lowest density county in state, #99 nationwide
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
#13. Wheeler County
- Rural area: 100.0% (575 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 575 square miles
--- #47 largest county in state, #1,726 nationwide
- Population density: 1.4 people / square mile (783 residents)
--- #14 lowest density county in state, #96 nationwide
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
#12. Hayes County
- Rural area: 100.0% (713 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 713 square miles
--- #38 largest county in state, #1,281 nationwide
- Population density: 1.3 people / square mile (893 residents)
--- #13 lowest density county in state, #90 nationwide
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
#11. Garden County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,704 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,704 square miles
--- #7 largest county in state, #352 nationwide
- Population density: 1.1 people / square mile (1,864 residents)
--- #12 lowest density county in state, #80 nationwide
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
#10. Loup County
- Rural area: 100.0% (568 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 568 square miles
--- #63 largest county in state, #1,797 nationwide
- Population density: 1.1 people / square mile (605 residents)
--- #11 lowest density county in state, #75 nationwide
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
#9. Keya Paha County
- Rural area: 100.0% (773 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 773 square miles
--- #28 largest county in state, #1,121 nationwide
- Population density: 1.0 people / square mile (760 residents)
--- #10 lowest density county in state, #68 nationwide
Coemgenus // Wikimedia Commons
#8. Banner County
- Rural area: 100.0% (746 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 746 square miles
--- #30 largest county in state, #1,182 nationwide
- Population density: 1.0 people / square mile (722 residents)
--- #8 lowest density county in state, #65 nationwide
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
#7. Hooker County
- Rural area: 100.0% (721 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 721 square miles
--- #33 largest county in state, #1,239 nationwide
- Population density: 1.0 people / square mile (693 residents)
--- #7 lowest density county in state, #61 nationwide
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
#6. Grant County
- Rural area: 100.0% (776 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 776 square miles
--- #27 largest county in state, #1,117 nationwide
- Population density: 0.9 people / square mile (722 residents)
--- #6 lowest density county in state, #59 nationwide
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
#5. Thomas County
- Rural area: 100.0% (713 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 713 square miles
--- #37 largest county in state, #1,280 nationwide
- Population density: 0.9 people / square mile (645 residents)
--- #5 lowest density county in state, #56 nationwide
marekuliasz // Shutterstock
#4. Blaine County
- Rural area: 100.0% (711 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 711 square miles
--- #39 largest county in state, #1,289 nationwide
- Population density: 0.7 people / square mile (477 residents)
--- #4 lowest density county in state, #36 nationwide
Jimmy Emerson, DVM // Flickr
#3. Arthur County
- Rural area: 100.0% (715 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 715 square miles
--- #36 largest county in state, #1,271 nationwide
- Population density: 0.6 people / square mile (427 residents)
--- #3 lowest density county in state, #33 nationwide
Jimmy Emerson, DVM // Flickr
#2. Sioux County
- Rural area: 100.0% (2,067 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 2,067 square miles
--- #6 largest county in state, #275 nationwide
- Population density: 0.6 people / square mile (1,219 residents)
--- #2 lowest density county in state, #32 nationwide
Zack Frank // Shutterstock
#1. McPherson County
- Rural area: 100.0% (859 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 859 square miles
--- #23 largest county in state, #966 nationwide
- Population density: 0.5 people / square mile (395 residents)
--- #1 lowest density county in state, #23 nationwide
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
Be the first to know
Get local news delivered to your inbox!