Keep farmland working
I will work to strengthen farmland preservation efforts, promote voluntary conservation easements where appropriate, and help landowners learn about programs that can keep working lands in agriculture for future generations.
Johnston County, North Carolina
Protecting the land.
Planning for tomorrow.
A lifetime in agriculture and public service. A commitment to practical conservation, strong partnerships, and responsible stewardship of Johnston County’s land and water.
A lifetime of local roots. A record of service. A commitment to conservation.
A lifetime rooted in Johnston County
Meet Delmon “Dewitt” Hardee
Dewitt Hardee is a native and lifelong resident of Johnston County, raised on a family farm and shaped by a lifetime of agriculture, conservation, and public service. In 1974, while entering high school, he took on responsibility for the family farm after his father was seriously injured in an automobile wreck. The farm produced tobacco, swine, corn, soybeans, small grain, and sweet potatoes.
A South Johnston High School graduate and active FFA member, Dewitt served as chapter president and received the American Farmers Degree in 1979. He earned degrees from NC State University in Animal Science (1982), Agricultural Education (1983), and a Master of Education (1985), as well as a Public Service Manager degree from the State of North Carolina.
Dewitt retired on December 31, 2021, after 36 years with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services. His work included specialist roles in tobacco, sweet potatoes, swine, dairy, and environmental programs, followed by leadership positions in domestic marketing, agribusiness development, marketing, policy and legislation, and farmland preservation. He directed farmland preservation and administered the Agriculture Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund from 2006 until retirement.
He and his wife, Beverly Lynn, started Elevation Plant Nursery & Landscaping in 1996, which continues to serve the public. Dewitt has managed the family farm since 1974 and remains involved in agriculture and conservation through the NC State Grange, Farm Bureau, Working Lands Trust, and local and state technical advisory committees. He also serves as a board member of the Johnston Soil & Water Conservation District, first joining the board in 2021.
His conservation work includes helping secure agricultural conservation easements on family farmland, including the district’s first easement in 2023 and additional easements in 2026. In 2023, he received the inaugural NC Friends of Farmland Award.
Commitments & priorities
Practical conservation.
Accountable local service.
Dewitt’s experience in farming, agricultural policy, and farmland preservation informs these proposed commitments. As a district supervisor, he would work with the full board, district staff, landowners, and partner agencies to pursue them within available funding and the district’s legal authority.
Protect soil and water
I will advocate for practical, science-informed conservation practices that help reduce erosion and runoff, protect water quality, and support healthy soil, streams, and watersheds throughout Johnston County.
Help landowners access programs
I will work to make information about eligible state and federal conservation assistance easier to find, including cost-share and water-resource programs, and support coordination with technical experts and partner agencies.
How I will approach the job
Listen locally
I will listen to farmers, rural landowners, residents, and community partners to help the board set priorities that reflect local conservation needs.
Use public funds responsibly
I will support transparent budgeting, careful stewardship, and proper accountability for public funds, while pursuing grants and eligible partnerships that can expand conservation work.
Build partnerships and education
I will encourage conservation education and collaboration with county, state, federal, and community partners on erosion, stormwater, floodplain concerns, stream restoration, and other locally identified needs.
Important role clarification: North Carolina soil and water conservation districts generally work in a non-regulatory capacity. Supervisors serve as a board, set district priorities, and oversee public resources; they do not unilaterally control grants, staffing, agency decisions, or program eligibility. These are commitments to advocate, collaborate, and work toward outcomes—not guarantees of funding or results.
Start a conversation
Contact the campaign
The campaign welcomes respectful messages from residents, farmers, and landowners with any questions, ideas, or concerns about soil and water conservation in Johnston County.