Raymond A. Starling has served as a member of our Board since January 2025. Mr. Starling has served as General Counsel to the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce and President of the North Carolina Chamber Legal Institute since July 2019. Prior to these roles, Mr. Starling served as Chief of Staff to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture from June 2018 to June 2019. Mr. Starling also previously served as a principal agriculture advisor to the President of the United States at the White House from February 2017 to June 2018. Mr. Starling served in various roles for North Carolina Speaker of the House and later U.S. Senator Thom Tillis from November 2012 to February 2017, and Mr. Starling served as General Counsel for the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services from February 2007 to November 2012. Prior to his career in public service, Mr. Starling worked as an Associate for Hunton & Williams LLP from August 2003 to February 2007. Mr. Starling has taught several agricultural and food law courses at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Campbell University, taught a public lawyering course at Regent University, is currently a member of the extended faculty of High Point University School of Law and is a frequent speaker on agriculture and related public policy issues. Mr. Starling holds a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural and Extension Education from North Carolina State University and a Juris Doctor from the University of North Carolina School of Law. We believe Mr. Starling is qualified to serve as our director due to his substantial knowledge of the agriculture industry, as well as his broad government and private sector experience.