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Golden Leaf Tobacco Company, incorporated in 1979, contracts with US growers to supply tobacco leaf to partners around the world.
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Malcom “Mac” Bailey fought for country tobacco farmers over the decades through his successful tobacco ventures.
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Mac Bailey’s vision now is to assist tobacco manufacturers and the industry overseas.
Mac Bailey started his tobacco career at 11 years old. There was a Maypole tradition that needed ribbons to be tied and a celebration to be held at his elementary school. However, there was no money to be found. He was determined to find a way to make it work. Young Mac figured everyone in his class, located in Lunenburg County, VA., could contribute a hand or two of tobacco. It was all put together and sold at market. The money was raised! It was his first tobacco sale and a success for the community all around.
Golden Leaf Tobacco Company (GLT) was incorporated in 1979. Fredrick “Spider” Cook began his career with the family that year as well. His father worked for Mac and Spider’s 40+ years of loyalty speak not only to Spider’s commitment to the Bailey family, but also to the customers and members of the GLT team. Today Cook is the executive vice president/director of GLT’s leaf department.
Mac “Father Bailey” continued his journey – fighting for the country farmer – when he decided to form his own cigarette company in 1994 in Keysville, Virginia. With clear gumption and a gracious nod to the five generations of forefathers and their tobacco growing heritage in the FCV Old Belt, the company started.
When Mac also realized that growers in Lancaster, Pennsylvania could and would supply Maryland type tobacco he invested time and effort “up there.” To date, GLT remains a majority contractor for growers with partners in that region, too.
The extremely successful cigarette business Mac created via S&M Brands was sold in March 2019. He made this difficult decision characteristically on his own terms and with the blessing of his family.
That was not the end of the story. Mac then took up a “hobby.” He now oversees a minimum of 10,000 beef cattle via Golden Leaf Farms on the 9,000 plus acres of land he owns surrounding the homestead on which he was raised.
The story of this Southern Virginian gentleman and Golden Leaf Tobacco Company is quite simple. A family farmer loved tobacco. He created a company to sell it locally to support his community. Now at 78 years-young Mac Bailey has a vision to assist manufacturers and the industry overseas. Cook and Anne Froke, international sales manager, are now traveling the world and working directly with global partners to supply their leaf requirements. Contracting with US growers, GLT has the capability and resources to “make it work” for all potential customers – just as Mac “Father” Bailey accomplished for his grade school 67 years ago.