Rathbone hired for state ag role Waynesville resident Kaleb Rathbone is now serving as an assistant commissioner to N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler, overseeing Western N.C. agricultural programs and small farms. Rathbone most recently served as director of the Research Stations Division, leading the state’s 18 research stations scattered from the mountains to the coasts. Prior to that he was superintendent of the Mountain Research Station in Waynesville for nearly eight years and served as that station’s research specialist for more than five years. He replaces Bill Yarborough, who recently retired as special assistant to the commissioner and will assume additional duties and oversight as an assistant commissioner.