Ware Shoals dad in running for national Ace Hardware commercial and $25,000 prize needs votes by Thursday night

Time is running out for Laurens County residents to help a Ware Shoals father advance in a national competition, with voting ending Thursday night, Oct. 1, when the Top 10 finalists are selected.

Dustin Michael Hatfield, a husband, father and salesman, is competing in the national Super Dad competition, where one father will be selected to appear in a national TV commercial provided by Ace Hardware and receive a $25,000 prize. Hatfield currently holds the No. 3 spot in his group, and every vote cast before Thursday night’s deadline helps him secure a place in the Top 10.

Supporters can vote at yoursuperdad.org/dustin-hatfield-1mRi.

Hatfield is the father of two sons, Camdyn, 12, and Lincoln, 5.

Camdyn plays football, enjoys gaming and virtual reality, and has excelled academically. “Watching him grow from a little boy into a young man has been one of the coolest, and sometimes hardest, parts of being a dad,” Hatfield said. “I want him to know that being a man isn’t just about being strong or providing. It’s about character, responsibility, keeping your word, treating people right and knowing when to stand up for what matters.”

Lincoln loves monster trucks and is busy learning his letters and sight words. Hatfield said his younger son reminds him to slow down and enjoy the little things.

For Hatfield, fatherhood goes well beyond providing a home and food on the table. “It’s being present,” he said. “It’s teaching them how to work, how to fix things, how to treat their mother, how to handle failure, how to help someone who needs it and how to take pride in what they do.”

A lifelong builder who enjoys working on vehicles and fabricating projects, Hatfield developed an idea he calls “Generation Built.” Its message is simple: “Don’t leave your children only what you built. Teach them how to build.”

“I want my boys to inherit more than anything I could ever buy them,” Hatfield said. “I want them to inherit skills, confidence, work ethic, faith, character and the ability to figure things out when life gets hard.”

He said his favorite memories with his sons come from ordinary moments, such as working on a project together, talking in the truck or watching them learn something new. He also wants them to see that their father is not perfect.

“I make mistakes. I have setbacks,” he said. “But I want them to see me keep getting back up, keep working and keep trying to become a better husband, father and man.”

Hatfield said the competition is about more than a prize. He hopes it shows his sons that they do not need to be famous or have everything figured out to pursue a big opportunity.

“Sometimes you just have to be willing to put yourself out there, work hard and see what happens,” he said.

He said the support from the community has made the experience especially meaningful, and he is counting on family, friends and Laurens County neighbors to help carry him into the Top 10.

“At the end of the day, my biggest goal isn’t for my boys to say that their dad was successful,” Hatfield said. “I want them to be able to say that their dad was there.”

Voting closes Thursday night, Oct. 1. Let’s show Hatfield some Laurens County support and help send one of our own to the Top 10. Vote for Dustin Hatfield