Belden family is honored for its passion for in agriculture

LAUREL – An area family has been selected for the Laurel Area Farm Family of the Year Award for its leadership in the agricultural community.

J. Miller Farms recently was presented with the award at the Laurel Area Agribusiness Appreciation Banquet, sponsored by the Laurel Chamber Community Club.

“We are excited to present the inaugural Laurel Area Farm Family of the Year Award,” said Jeremy Christiansen, chamber treasurer.

“This award serves as an important opportunity to recognize and honor farm families throughout the Laurel, Nebraska, area for their contributions to the agriculture industry and our local economies.”

After collecting nominations for this award, a committee reviewed nominations and selected a family who showed leadership in the local agricultural community.

J. Miller Farms – Jim and Jan Miller, along with their sons, Jason and Lucas and their families – farm in the Belden, Laurel, Hartington, Randolph, Wausa and Norfolk areas along with raising custom-fed hogs and running cow-calf operations.

Jim and Jan have served on a variety of state and national boards and committees. Jim has been a board member of the American Soybean Association and is a past chairman of the U.S. Soybean Export Council.

Jan has served on the National Pork Board and is a past president of the Nebraska Pork Producers. She also serves on the planning committee for the Ag-Ceptional Women’s Conference at Northeast Community College and was the 2011 Woman of the Year.

According to the family’s nomination, the Millers have been strong supporters of American agriculture and commodity trade overseas. They host elementary school students at their farm to teach farm safety and agriculture education.

Lucas has been actively involved in the Laurel-Concord-Coleridge FFA farm test plots by providing both ground and equipment for the program.