Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler has named Kelly Nilsson director of the Emergency Programs Division at the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Nilsson replaces John Howard, who retired Dec. 31.
Joseph Hudyncia of Apex is the new Section Chief of Field Services for the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Agronomic Services Division.
RALEIGH – Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler today named Peter Thornton of Cary as the new director of the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Marketing Division. Thornton replaces Joe Sanderson, who retired in March after 34 years with the department.
Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler today named William “Bill” Foote of Cary as the new director of the Plant Industry Division in the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Foote replaces Phil Wilson, who is retiring at the end of September after 37 years with the department.
Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler recently promoted Dr. Michael P. Martin to serve as State Veterinarian. Martin previously served as Poultry Section Head for the Veterinary Division since 2012. In that role he had oversight of all poultry programs operations within the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Martin replaces Dr. Doug Meckes, who retires at the end of this month.
Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler today announced the promotion of Christina “Chrissy” Waggett of Durham to assistant commissioner for consumer protection. She currently serves as an agricultural program specialist and federal liaison for the department and will replace longtime assistant commissioner Joe Reardon who is retiring June 30. The promotion is effective July 1.
RALEIGH – Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler recently named Walter Beal of Kittrell as the new director of the Food Distribution Division in the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Beal replaces Gary Gay, who retired at the end of April after 36 years with the department.
The N.C. Agricultural Finance Authority Board of Directors selected Robert Hosford to serve as the finance agency’s executive director. Hosford replaces Stephanie Oxley, who has served in that role since 2015 and retired on March 1.“Robert understands North Carolina’s agricultural community, as well as agriculture on a national scale,” Troxler said. “This knowledge and experience will be a benefit to the Agricultural Finance Authority and the farmers that benefit from its services.”
Haywood County native Kyle Miller has moved into the top leadership position at the Mountain Research Station in Waynesville – something he considers not just a blessing but a gift that he feels led to share."I've always loved agriculture. I've always just wanted to farm my whole life,” Miller said. “When it's in your blood, it's more than just a job or profession. You feel like you've got a moral responsibility, and you owe it to the rest of society."