North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler filed for reelection on Tuesday. Troxler was first elected to the office in 2004 and took office in February 2005. He agreed to an exclusive interview with SFN to explain why he wants to run for a sixth term.

I think there are a couple of reasons. I’ve always considered my public service to be a calling to help people. That fire burns is bright or brighter than it’s ever burned before. And, you know, I just so much love what I do every day and the people in the department of agriculture, I want to continue. So I’m looking forward to it. I think I’m as excited or more excited than I’ve ever been running, and that’s saying a lot. This would be my seventh time being on the statewide ballot. So raring to go.

I know we have had ag commissioners that have had extended stays in the office, if you will, would this be a record? I’m not sure. I’m thinking Jim Graham.

Jim Graham actually served I think it was 34 years. He got into it much earlier than I needed. To current time, I’m the second longest serving commissioner or director in the country right behind you brothers in South Carolina, who was actually appointed to the position before we ran so I am one of the more experienced commissioners in the country and considering the world winds that we are experiencing right now. Politically, particularly I think stability is a good thing. So offer that leadership and stability and I’m I couldn’t be any prouder to go after this one more time.

Speaking of that experience, not just in number of years, but also you have served outside of North Carolina. I think it should be noted as a national leader tell us about that when you served in a capacity with NASDA.

I was so honored to be selected to serve as the president of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture. And that gave me an insight to how other departments operate and the things that we do compared to that, and I walked away from that experience knowing that we were one of the best or the best departments in the country, and I was able to see a lot and in fact, it was at a time we were talking about the new food safety rules and things and I led that effort. So an incredible honor for me, for the department. You know, something that it’s still hard to believe that I was in that leadership role, but I’m extremely proud of it.