Washington, D.C. – The Obama administration appointed Aaron Martin as the North Carolina State Executive Director for the Farm Service Agency, and the Hayesville native becomes the first Western North Carolinian to be appointed to this position, Rep. Heath Shuler announced.
“I’m glad to see that the Obama administration recognized Aaron for his years of hard work and service,” said Rep. Heath Shuler, D-Waynesville, who supported Martin’s promotion. “Having spent a long and productive career working in Western North Carolina, Aaron understands the needs of our farmers.”
Martin, who has worked at the FSA for more than 31 years, previously served as District Director of the FSA for the Western Region of North Carolina. Earlier, he worked as the state’s FSA Compliance and Crop Disaster Specialist and Executive Director of Clay County’s FSA.
Martin helped secure a $500,000 grant for the Hiawassee River Watershed project, which led to more than 400 conservation practices by Clay County farmers that improved the water quality in the area. He also significantly raised the participation of Clay County farmers in FSA loan programs.
“Despite the reputation that some people have of government bureaucracies, the FSA has been known for its quick and efficient delivery of farm programs,” Martin said. “’I want to make sure that tradition continues throughout the state.”
Martin is well known among North Carolina’s farming community, and helped work with the state government to compensate farmers after two hurricanes flooded the state in 1999.
“The NCFB is extremely pleased with the selection of Aaron Martin as state executive director of the Farm Service Agency,” said Larry Wooten, President of the North Carolina Farm Bureau. “Aaron is a veteran of the agency; he understands the programs, stakeholders and the agency’s employees. We have worked with Aaron in the past on many issues that affect farmers, and we look forward to maintaining a close working relationship with Aaron and his staff in the years to come.”
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