Once the Great Depression struck, the family lost everything.

"We moved out on a farm in Woodlawn in 1939 and planted trees ever since," he said.

"It was hard times then," he said, recalling the year and a half break he took from college to help on the farm.

Nevertheless, the family, who mainly ran a dairy, has been very prosperous in the forestry industry. The farm has been in the family for three generations.

Sanders and his wife, Mary Jane Sanders, both timber farmers, now operate the farm, planting and selling pulpwood. The two, who originally raised cattle, started planting trees in the 1970s when Sanders' father passed away.

"It takes a little more work to look out for cattle than plant trees," the 82-year-old said. "The Forestry Service and Soil and Water Conservation District do a good job helping people."