Riding Shotgun on Stewardship

What a toddler’s week on the job teaches us about commitment

When a landowner protects their property with a conservation easement many assume the hard work is done. In truth, that’s when our responsibility truly begins.

What stewardship means

Stewardship means upholding that conservation easement forever. Once land is protected, OLT pledges to work with that landowner, and every future owner, to honor the easement. Each agreement sets out the rights and restrictions that protect the property, and it is our responsibility to ensure those protections endure. For OLT, that commitment adds up to roughly 174 visits across seven counties every year.

This work is led by Caylor Romines, our Director of Land Stewardship. From the very beginning, he becomes part of each land’s story; getting to know the families behind the easement, sharing their love for their land, and watching landscapes change over time. In turn, those families get to know our families. Stewardship is more than a duty; it’s a relationship.

Land & candy

This summer, that connection took on new meaning. When Caylor’s toddler, Coleson, had a week off from daycare, Caylor didn’t step back from his responsibilities, instead he brought Coleson along. Together, they logged more than 600 miles and visited 45 conservation easements.

Coleson rode shotgun in his dad’s truck, listened to stories, and even got spoiled in a Bamberg living room leaving with a pocketful of candy from doting landowners. He also stood beside his dad, looking up at trees that landowners planted years ago, now grown tall.

These are the moments when the meaning of forever comes into focus. Conservation is not just about protecting land. It’s about families protecting their land, their stories, and the lowcountry way of life for us all.

This work is bigger than any one of us. It touches all of us and those who will come after us. Forever is no small promise. At the Open Land Trust, we are proud to keep it.