PITTSBORO, N.C. — North Carolina attorney Ray Starling is joining the White House staff as Special Assistant to the President for Agriculture, Trade and Food Assistance. Starling grew up on a Century Farm in Autryville, NC and has spent most of his career in agriculture policy. He has served as General Counsel at the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and as senior staff to Sen. Thom Tillis in both the NC Legislature and the U.S. Senate.
“Ray Starling understands the diverse needs of farmers and ag businesses of all shapes and sizes, and has personal experience working with sustainable, local producers,” said Roland McReynolds, Executive Director of the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association (CFSA). “We have appreciated working with him in the past to address important issues for North Carolina’s organic and sustainable farmers and its local food economy, and are excited to work with him going forward. He is a champion for farmers, and we know is he is committed to ensuring all of agriculture has a voice in shaping U.S. economic policy.”
Starling has a B.S in Agricultural Education from NC State University and earned his law degree from the School of Law at UNC-Chapel Hill, where he has also been an instructor in agricultural law.
— The Carolina Farm Stewardship Association
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