As the temperature ticks lower and lower, wood sales tick higher and higher. CFHS senior Donny Hardy’s business strives in the fall and winter. 

Hardy, a student-athlete currently participating in football, has been very busy since it is the hottest time of the year for scheduling his buyers.

“August to October is my best season for sure. I tend to get my full schedule of the people I will be selling to. It’s my big preparation season,” Hardy said. “It’s definitely a good amount of pressure on me. But the more time I put in, the better my business does. It’s all worth it in the end.”

Hardy has cut wood for the past four years.

“I really wanted to make money, which led me into wanting to start my own business. As a family we always split firewood and I wanted to expand on that,” Hardy said.

It’s not an easy job whatsoever. It takes tons of time to get good at it.

“It took me around a year to fully master wood cutting. I feel like the world portrays it as an easy job,” Hardy said. “There is a lot that goes into it. The technique when splitting the wood, the strength to carry and move the wood, and the journey to find the good quality wood. Those are just a few things that go into it.”

In addition to his wood cutting, Hardy spends loads of time being a student-athlete. Whether it’s scoring touchdowns on the football field, hitting home runs on the baseball field, or getting A’s in the classroom. Hardy has always been known as a hard worker. In the early fall, he spends around 10 hours a week cutting the bulk of his wood. But, those 10 hours a week do not only occur in the fall.

“I work during the summer gathering and cutting the firewood too,” Hardy said. “The summer is no joke with the heat. A much different version of wood cutting in comparison to the fall and winter.”

A job that seems to be year round has some time off. The spring is Hardys time to focus hard on other stuff. Hardy is pursuing to play on a college baseball team. 

“I have always wanted to play baseball in college. It has been a huge dream of mine since I was a kid. When I am not cutting wood, I am probably working hard on the baseball field,” Hardy said. “Believe it or not I feel as if cutting wood has helped me in sports. It has built up a lot of strength in my body. It is not an easy occupation.”

That time of the year shifts his focus to that. But the moment summer hits is the moment the wood business is back in action.

Hardy takes in all the revenue from the business. But his Dad is a huge help for him.

“I would not be where I am without my Dad. He taught me all about the wood industry. It is something that is pursued hard in my family’s history,” Hardy said. “I love what he taught me. I would not want to work any other job.”