|
Troxler, Rouzer honored for service
Story Date: 11/9/2011
| |
Source: PRESS RELEASE, 11/8/11
North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler and state Sen. David Rouzer are the 2011 recipients of Distinguished Service Awards given by the North Carolina Agricultural Foundation at North Carolina State University.
The awards are given annually to individuals who provide outstanding support to N.C. State University and the university’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
The two were recognized for providing “great leadership and advocacy on behalf of our citizens, agriculture and higher education in North Carolina,” said Dr. Johnny Wynne, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences dean, who hosted a presentation event. Assisting Wynne in making the presentations were Jim Smith, chairman of the N.C. Agricultural Foundation; Kevin Howell, N.C. State assistant to the chancellor for external affairs; and Chris Wessel, director of donor services and departmental fundraising for College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Advancement.
Troxler is a 1974 graduate of N.C. State with a degree in conservation. Since taking office in 2005 as commissioner of the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Troxler has focused on developing new markets for N.C. farm products, preserving farms and protecting the state’s food supply.
He has also been a partner with and advocate for the college and N.C. State: Troxler serves on the boards of the N.C. Agricultural, Dairy and Tobacco foundations, and he has recently served as featured speaker for a series of classes for College of Agriculture and Life Sciences students. Under his leadership, the NCDA&CS collects funds for the Nickels for Know-How program, which generates about $1.3 million annually in support of college research, extension and academic programs. NCDA&CS and the college also jointly manage agricultural research stations across the state.
Rouzer is currently serving his second term as a state senator, representing Johnston and Wayne counties. A resident of McGee’s Crossroads, he earned three N.C. State degrees in agricultural business management, agricultural economics and chemistry. He currently owns and operates a business consulting firm as well as a distributorship marketing environmentally friendly products. For more than a decade, he was involved in public policy development and implementation, public relations and legislative strategy through work in the legislative and executive branches of the federal government as well as through work for N.C. State University.
On Capitol Hill, Rouzer was a senior staffer for former U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms and former U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole. He worked on various provisions of two farm bills and the 1999 Hurricane Floyd disaster recovery legislation. He is also noted for his role in crafting and securing passage of the tobacco quota buyout, which was of critical importance to eastern North Carolina.
In between two stints of service with Helms, he was assistant to the dean and director of commodity relations for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, working with numerous constituencies to promote and advance the college’s mission.
|
|
|
|
