But at 6:42 p.m. Friday night, the Dalton Fire Department arrived at the farm after farmers spotted the 1,000-pound hay bales ablaze.
“Within about 24 hours is when it went up in flames,” Pike said. “So it didn’t take long.”
Dicken Crane, the farm’s owner, posted images of the fire on Facebook.
“It’s actually hard to believe anyone who says they love this country would do this,” he wrote.
The Dalton Police Department said they arrested Lonnie Durfee, 49, and charged him with burning personal property. He will be arraigned Tuesday. Police said the investigation is ongoing.
Pike said she doesn’t know the individual personally but heard that he was boasting about the fire to friends shortly afterward.