With the County’s support, another 78 acres in Johnston will remain in farming forever. The Johnston Soil and Water Conservation District on Wednesday purchased two conservation easements — one for 52.66 acres and another for 25.31 acres, both along Johnsons Chapel Road north of Benson. Dewitt Hardee and his wife, Lynn, own the land, which has been in the Hardee family since before the Civil War.

County helps keep more land in farming forever

The inaugural NC Friends of Farmland Award was presented to Dewitt Hardee on May 19. Hardee, a Johnston County native, served as the first Farmland Preservation Director for NCDA&CS from 2006 until his retirement in 2021. Over the course of his tenure as Farmland Preservation Director, Hardee coordinated the preservation of nearly 30,000 acres of farmland.

NC Forever Farms program announced; inaugural NC Friends of Farmland Award presented

Dewitt Hardee is a Johnston County native. He is married to Lynn.

District Board of Supervisors | Soil and Water Conservation ...

NC Forever Farms Program Announced; Inaugural NC Friends of ...

Dewitt Hardee

Agriculture Programs Coordinator – NC Grange

Johnston County, NC

Working Lands Trust Board

The inaugural NC Friends of Farmland Award was presented to Dewitt Hardee on May 19. Hardee, a Johnston County native, served as the first Farmland Preservation Director for NCDA&CS from 2006 until his retirement in 2021. Over the course of his tenure as Farmland Preservation Director, Hardee coordinated the preservation of nearly 30,000 acres of farmland. Hardee’s farmland preservation work continues as he is now a Johnston County Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor.

Dewitt Hardee is an Agriculture Programs Coordinator at NC Grange. He previously served as Farmland Preservation Director for the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Our Board - Working Lands Trust

Photo: John Langdon, Chairman (elected)

Name: Charles Hill, Vice-Chairman (elected)

Name: Dewitt Hardee, Member (elected)

Photo: Dennis Durham, Secretary / Treasurer (appointed)

Photo: Donald Rogers, (appointed)

Page last updated: June 5, 2026

District Board of Supervisors

Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisor
The filing window for Soil & Water Supervisor opens later — from June 8, 2026 at noon to July 6, 2026 at 5 p.m.

The seats are currently held by:

John Michael Langdon
Dewitt Hardee

The Primary Election will be held on March 3, 2026 with the General Election taking place on November 3, 2026.

Filing Opens Dec. 1 For Johnston County’s 2026 Elections

Dewitt currently serves as an elected member of the Johnston Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors.

Filing Opens Dec. 1 For Johnston County's 2026 Elections

2026 North Carolina General Election

Dewitt Hardee and his wife, Lynn, own the land, which has been in the Hardee family since before the Civil War. “I began farming this land myself after my father became disabled following an automobile wreck in 1974,” Dewitt Hardee said. “I was 14 and a freshman at South Johnston High School.” The family raised hogs and grew tobacco, sweet potatoes, corn, soybeans, wheat, rye and vegetables. Today, they lease the land to another farming operation while using some of the acreage for timber management and nursery crops. “It is important to me and the family to keep the land in farming and forestry so future generations will have the ability to produce food and fiber,” Hardee said.

According to the nonprofit American Farmland Trust, North Carolina saw over 730,000 acres of farmland converted to other uses between 2001 and 2016. That amounts to 133 acres a day. Dewitt Hardee is farmland preservation director with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and he’s concerned about what the loss means for future generations. The largest economy in North Carolina is the agribusiness or agriculture sector – it’s food and fiber and forestry. It’s over about $93 billion – that’s with a “b” – annually. So when we look at that, what supports that industry is the lands that are in farms and forestry that basically are probably owned by people for that production. And as we reduce those land resources, you’re basically cutting out what is the foundation that supports that agriculture and agribusiness. So you’re jeopardizing that.

Farmland in a fast-growing state

Mr. Beck stated this request is for a contract on government owned property. Johnston District Supervisor Dewitt Hardee is present in person and staff from Johnston District and Keith Stark, the Central Crops Research Station Superintendent, are attending online. Mr. Beck introduced Mr. Hardee to present Johnston District’s request. Mr. Hardee shared this project is supported by the Johnston District and is for work improving resource concerns on the Central Crops Research Station in Clayton. The practices to be installed include a grassed waterway and a rooftop runoff management system. Letters from the Johnston District and the Central Crops Research Station Superintendent in support of the project were submitted to the Commission and Mr. Hardee requested the Commission’s approval of this project. Commissioner Bleiweis moved to approve the request for contract 51-2024-021 on government property and Commissioner Teague seconded. Motion carried unanimously.

Microsoft Word - 2A_DRAFT MINUTES July 23 2024 Work Session.docx (PDF)

Supports keeping farmland and forestland in production to support future food and fiber production.

As a district supervisor, requested approval for a project at Central Crops Research Station to create a grass-covered channel and manage runoff from rooftops.

- Supports keeping farmland and forestland in production to support future food and fiber production.
- As a district supervisor, requested approval for a project at Central Crops Research Station to create a grass-covered channel and manage runoff from rooftops.

Energy & the Environment

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

Administration

LinkedIn

Dewitt Hardee

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

Isaac Brickman

Walter Ley

Brad A. Barefoot

Caitlin Marsh

Christine A. Livingston

Gracie Chamblee

Joe David Austin

John Michael Langdon

Luke Smith

Travis Allen Floyd

- A soil and water conservation district supervisor is 1 member of a board of 5 supervisors that works to improve the soil and water quality in the county through education. 
- The board of supervisors provide technical and financial assistance to help land users maintain their land and surrounding ecosystems. 
- The board of supervisors design long term conservation programs that teach environmental care, pollution reduction, and provide incentives for using these practices, especially for agricultural workers. 
- The board of supervisors provide short term educational services like competitions, field days, and workshops to educate the public on conservation. 
- Soil and water conservation district supervisors are elected to 4 year terms in non-partisan races. However, 2 of the board members are appointed by the state soil and water commission. 

Member of board of supervisors that creates aid programs and educates people on environmental conservation. 