Oakland clan named Freeborn County Farm Family of the Year

ALBERT LEA — A close partnership between brothers has helped the Miller dairy operation stay successful over the years, and win the 2013 Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce Farm Family of the Year Award.

John Miller works side by side with his brother, Dick, on a dairy farm just north of Oakland. The two accepted the award at the annual Ag Luncheon Tuesday, along with John’s wife, Alana. Miller hopes their two children, Jack and Lindsey, who are both college students, can also make it. Miller said he has lived on the same farm since he was 4 years old, while Dick is on the family’s original farm that’s been in their name since 1862. Since 1979, the two brothers have had 120 dairy cows.

“We’ve been milking that many cows all the time,” Miller said. “We run 600 acres — it takes about half to grow our feed and the other half is cash crop.”

Miller said neither he or his brother Dick would be as successful on their own as they are together: Their opposite personalities help keep the business balanced.

“He’s been pulling me forward and I’ve been pulling him back, which creates a happy medium thing,” Miller said. “If it was just him, he’d be going too fast and if it was just me, [the operation] would be too small.”

In addition to milking 120 cows every day, they also raise heifers and steer.

“So we have about 300 head at all times,” Miller said. “Cows are calving all year ‘round.”

The Miller farm also was named a master dairy producer in Freeborn County in 2012, and Dick is president of the American Dairy Association in Freeborn County.

“We also host the Freeborn County third-grade farm tours,” Miller said. “We enjoy it, though I must say it’s a lot of work.”

Running a dairy farm is a lot of work, too.

“It’s never ending,” Miller said. “About 5:30 in the morning I could sell you the cows pretty easy but then the second group comes through and I’m feeling good. Most days I’m pretty positive.”

Their family is also active in 4-H. Both Jack and Lindsey were members of the Moscow 4-H Club and showed steer and dairy heifers. Alana also volunteers with the 4-H group, and Jack said she likes to create interesting exhibits during dairy month in June. She made one that had dairy trivia and was displayed at Nick’s Meats in Hayward.

“She’s quite creative,” Miller said.

Lindsey was also the Freeborn County dairy princess in 2011, and milk maid in 2005. She’s attending the University of Wisconsin-Stout, while her older brother is attending University of Wisconsin-River Falls studying ag business.

“My kids have worked on the farm ever since they were able to carry feed bales,” Miller said. “My son does a lot when he comes home. I’m proud of him for his willingness to take part in the business.”