David Burnette
Heritage agriculture and forestry demonstrator, blacksmith, banjo player
Canton, NC (Haywood County)
(828) 648-0878David Burnette

David Burnette

David also carries on traditional methods of making and preserving food. In the late summer and early fall, he makes molasses and hominy at his farm, inviting the public on the first three Saturdays after Labor Day. “I always try to help people,” he says, “and pass on knowledge if I possibly can.”

David Burnette is based in Canton, North Carolina. He makes molasses and hominy at his farm and invites the public on the first three Saturdays after Labor Day.

David Burnette - Blue Ridge National Heritage Area

The President’s Report

– David Burnette, President/CEO

Telco Annual Report 2024

David Burnette devotes his energies to teaching and sharing the traditions that his elders shared with him. He teaches blacksmithing at Haywood County Community College, and does blacksmith demonstrations at festivals and fairs. He and his son, with whom he also plays music, have given demonstrations, at the Cradle of Forestry and area plow days, of logging with horses and plowing with oxen.

He taught a troop of boy scouts how to make a horse- or mule-pulled work sled of the kind that was ubiquitous on mountain farms before automobiles. David does custom work and demonstrations with a handset (small, manually-operated) sawmill.

David Burnette serves as president and chief executive officer. He teaches blacksmithing at Haywood County Community College and performs custom work and gives demonstrations using a manually operated sawmill.

David serves as president and chief executive officer. He teaches blacksmithing at Haywood County Community College and performs custom work and gives demonstrations using a manually operated sawmill.

last updated 1/21/2025

NAME David Allen Burnette | OFFICE BOARD OF EDUCATION BEAVERDAM DISTRICT | TERM DURATION 4 YEARS | NEXT ELECTION YEAR 2028

Elected Officials

David currently serves on the Board of Education for Beaverdam District.

2026 North Carolina General Election

The school board will stay in Burnette’s heart if he’s elected commissioner — he hopes to be able to use the seat to advocate for education funding, while also supporting sustainable economic growth. “I love the school board, I love the children,” Burnette said. “But with the Canton paper mill closing, I think economic development’s going to be big for the county, and I just think that I could have an opportunity to help on a broader scale.”

Big field running in Haywood County Commissioner GOP primary

Prioritizes economic development following the Canton paper mill closure.

- Prioritizes economic development following the Canton paper mill closure.

Economy

As of September 2, 2026, David Burnette did not have a website or any information online.

Public Services

Housing & Urban Development

He’s also focused on protecting Haywood County’s farms and farmers, and said public safety is a top priority as well. “There’s nothing more important than being safe and feeling safe in your home, feeling safe in your community,” he said.

Prioritizes safety at home and in the community.

- Prioritizes safety at home and in the community.

Public Safety

Transportation & Infrastructure

Energy & the Environment

Facebook

As of September 2, 2026, David Burnette’s website did not contain information on this issue.

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