AgGeorgia Farm Credit

A Caretaker of the LandBy Mary Kiley“They’re not going to make any more land.”Roy Malone frequently heard this nuggetof wisdom from his father, A.C. Malone, Sr.He has passed it along through the years tohis children and grandchildren as he hasadmonished them to care for the land of theirinheritance.A farmer and caretaker of the land forwell over seven decades, today at 91 Roystill takes pleasure in walking in his woods,marking the timber for harvest and planningfor the future of his family’s farm.“My grandfather moved to LaurensCounty from Jasper County when my papawas about 14, back in the late 1800s. He sawhow poor land management had erodedaway the topsoil. He learned something fromthat, and he taught my papa about takingcare of the land. My papa taught me,” saysRoy. The lesson on land stewardship hasresulted in numerous accolades for Roy andhis Goose Hollow Farm. Among his awardsand recognitions he was selected as “Manof the Year” in conservation for LaurensCounty in 1962, recognized as an outstandingforest landowner by the Georgia ForestryCommission and received the OutstandingForest Stewardship award in 1995.Roy’s dad was a farmer in the 1920swhen Roy was born; he and his siblings wereraised with a strong work ethic as they livedthrough the depression of the 1930s. Royremembers picking cotton for neighbors fromdaylight until dark. He had four jobs as hecompleted two years of college at AbrahamBaldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, wherehe received his degree in 1941.After graduation he told his dad that hewanted to farm. His dad sold him 50 acres ofland and told him he would record the deedwhen Roy had paid off the land. To earnmoney to pay the debt Roy caught a bus forLos Angeles, where his brother was workingat Lockheed and got a job there.Wanting to fly, Roy then joined theArmy Air Corps and was sent to Texas forflight training. Then it was on to Meridian,Miss., for more training. By December ofTop of page, Roy and Sarah Malone have a love for the land they and their family have lived on and farmed for more than 70 years.Below, Lt. Colonel Malone’s collection of World War II memorabilia includes the Longines-Wittnauer clock from his P-51 Mustang Fighter plane, “The GeorgiaRebel” and the flight log book he used in the Pacific theater.AgGeorgia.6.Autumn 2012