Steve Troxler

Troxler was born and grew up in Browns Summit, North Carolina, where he attended local schools. He studied conservation at North Carolina State University, earning a bachelor's degree in 1974.

Troxler originally leased farmland in Browns Summit before he purchased some after he got his degree and primarily grew tobacco. After he was elected to office, he planted less tobacco in favor of wheat and produce.{{cite news| last = Maurer| first = Kevin| title = The Governor of Rural North Carolina| newspaper = The Assembly| date = August 6, 2021| url = https://www.theassemblync.com/long-form/the-governor-of-rural-north-carolina/| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221002062906/https://www.theassemblync.com/politics/steve-troxler-the-governor-of-rural-north-carolina/| archive-date = October 2, 2022}}

Troxler was originally a member of the Democratic Party, but left the organization in the late 1990s, feeling that Democrats were hostile to tobacco production. Jerry Blackwelder, a Republican Party consultant, recruited him as a candidate for the office of North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture. Troxler ran in 2000, losing to Meg Scott Phipps. Due to a financial corruption scandal, Phipps was replaced by Democrat Britt Cobb in 2003.

Troxler ran again for the same position in the 2004 Council of State election, finishing 2,287 votes ahead of incumbent Cobb. However, because more than 4,000 votes were lost in Carteret County, the race was unresolved for more than three months. After extended legal challenges between Cobb and Troxler, Cobb conceded the race on February 4, 2005.{{cite news| title = Cobb Folds His Hand, Concedes to Troxler Three Months After the Election Ended| newspaper = Greensboro News & Record| date = February 4, 2005| url = https://greensboro.com/cobb-folds-his-hand-concedes-to-troxler-three-months-after-the-election-ended-agriculture-commissioner/article_38eb1eb9-91ca-5858-9eb9-1efeaca5b838.html| access-date = April 13, 2022}}

Troxler was sworn in as North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner on February 8, 2005.{{cite news| last = Collins| first = Kristen| title = Troxler's swearing-in draws hundreds| newspaper = The News & Observer| page = B5| date = February 9, 2005| url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117639447/the-news-and-observer/}} He was the first Republican to be elected as Agriculture Commissioner in the state's history, reflecting the ascendancy of the party in the state. After his inauguration at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds, Troxler rode a tractor to his downtown offices. Troxler was re-elected in 2008 as Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services for the state of North Carolina.{{cite web|title=Steve Troxler for Commissioner|date=November 2008|url=http://www.stevetroxler.com/}} As of 2025 he is currently serving his sixth term.

Because of a state law passed in 2013 that expanded venues for carrying legally permitted weapons, in 2014 a gun owners group challenged the no-guns policy of the North Carolina State Fair. Troxler enforced the ban that year while court cases were litigated.[http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/counties/wake-county/article10078625.html Andrew Kenney, "Troxler says he will enforce gun ban at NC State Fair, despite threat of legal action"], News & Observer, 30 September 2014; accessed 10 June 2018 A Wake County Superior Court upheld the ban at the fair later that year. By early 2015, some legislators introduced bills to allow guns, while others introduced a bill to maintain the ban on carrying guns at the fair.[http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/article17235527.html Jim Morrill, "Bill would allow guns at NC State Fair"], Charlotte Observer, 02 April 2015; accessed 10 June 2018 The ban continues as of 2023.{{Cite web |title=NC State Fair |url=https://www.ncstatefair.org/2023/Visitor/ClearBagPolicy.htm |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=www.ncstatefair.org}}

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• [https://web.archive.org/web/20050212155353/http://www.agr.state.nc.us/ North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services website]

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{{s-ttl|title=Republican nominee for North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture|years=2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024}}

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{{s-ttl|title=Agriculture Commissioner of North Carolina|years=2005–present}}

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Category:1952 births

Category:Living people

Category:North Carolina commissioners of agriculture

Category:North Carolina Republicans

Category:North Carolina State University alumni

Category:People from Browns Summit, North Carolina

Category:21st-century North Carolina politicians