William J. Hardee II (left) with son William J. Hardee III and Barry Brooks,
a Loris High School administrator
HARDEE IS STATE FFA AGRICULTURAL STAR
COLUMBIA, SC…William J. Hardee III, a 2009 graduate of Loris High School, was named the State Star in Agribusiness by the SC FFA Association during a recent ceremony at Clemson University, according to John W. Parris, state director of public affairs with the SC FFA organization.
“William was awarded an engraved plaque and a check for $1200 co-sponsored by Southern States Cooperative and the SC FFA Foundation to defray the expenses for him and Loris FFA advisor Nate Bellamy to attend the National FFA Convention later this year,” Parris said.
A significant employee in his family-owned True Value Hardware store in Loris, William has logged more than 3500 hours selling plants, pesticides, herbicides, paint, plumbing fixtures and hardware products during his high school years. In addition to his work at the store, he grows chickens and watermelons to market through the store. His senior FFA conservation-related project included raising and banding mallard ducks which he released in the swamps after hunting season to increase the local duck population.
An active member and president of the Loris FFA Chapter, William was a member of the state champion FFA Soil Identification and Land Treatment team and competed in the national finals. A member of the 2009 state champion team in the FFA Division of the SC Envirothon, William also competed as a team member in the state FFA Wildlife Management career development event. An accomplished musician, he has performed in the state and national FFA convention talent competition.
The son of W. J. and Brenda Hardee of Loris, William will enter Clemson University this fall to major in Agricultural Education with a minor in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology.