N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler was raised in the Guilford County community of Browns Summit and has spent his entire career in agriculture as founder, owner and operator of Troxler Farms. Over the years, the family-owned farm has produced tobacco, wheat, vegetables and soybeans.

Since taking office in 2005, Troxler has focused on developing new markets for N.C. farm products, preserving working farms and protecting the state’s food supply.

Troxler is active in the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture and will become president of the organization in September 2012. He currently serves as first vice president of NASDA and chairs its Tobacco Task Force and Food Regulation and Nutrition Committee. He served as president of the Southern Association of State Departments of Agriculture in 2010-2011.

He also serves on the boards of the N.C. Foundation for Soil and Water Conservation, the Rural Economic Development Center and the N.C. Biotechnology Center. He is a member of numerous organizations, including the N.C. Tobacco Research Commission and the Southern United States Trade Association.

During his career, Troxler has been recognized with the Conservation Guardian Award of the Guilford County Soil Conservation Service; the Phillip Morris Outstanding Young Tobacco Farmer Award; the Outstanding Young Farmer Award from the North Carolina Jaycees; the N.C. Agricultural Extension Service’s Outstanding Service Award; the Certificate of Merit from the NCSU chapter of Gamma Sigma Delta agricultural honor society; and an Honorary State FFA Degree. His family was named “Tobacco Farm Family of the Year” by the Tobacco Growers Association of North Carolina. In 2011, he received the Elliot O. Grosvenor Food Safety Award from the Association of Food and Drug Officials, the Distinguished Service Award from the N.C. Agricultural Foundation, and a leadership award from the Western North Carolina Livestock Center and WNC Communities.

Past Service

Troxler has held leadership positions in numerous agricultural and community organizations. His service includes the Board of Directors of North Central Farm Credit Association; the Board of Supervisors of the Guilford County Soil and Water Conservation District; board member and vice president of the Guilford County Farmers Organization; the Guilford County Extension Advisory Board; the State Extension Advisory Council at N.C. State University and N.C. A&T State University; and the boards of the North Carolina Tobacco Settlement Phase II Entity and the Guilford County Farm Bureau.

In addition, he was a century member, director and secretary of the Tobacco Growers Association of North Carolina. He also was a spokesman for the group on local, national and international television.

In the community, Troxler was founder and president of the Browns Summit-Monticello Youth Association, a youth sports organization. He established the BSM Community Center and raised funds to improve facilities. He also served as a volunteer host for the Greensboro Visitors Bureau, working with international visitors, journalists and various school groups and summer programs.

Troxler was graduated from N.C. State University in 1974 with a Bachelor of Science degree in conservation, with a concentration in environmental studies. He and his wife, Sharon, have two grown sons, two daughters-in-law and three grandchildren. In his spare time, Troxler enjoys restoring antique farm equipment and playing with his dog, Kate, a Labrador/golden retriever mix.

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