2015 Black Hawk County- Barbara and P. Lee Miller

Deeply-held commitment to 4-H, church, community, family and farming have defined the lives of Barbara and P. Lee Miller for many years.

As young people growing up on farms each became avid 4-H members.  Lee, a member of the Orange Boosters club, participated with dairy projects where he was able to hone his talents as a dairy judge by participating on the Black Hawk County 4-H Dairy Judging Team. The Black Hawk County team won the Iowa State Fair Dairy Judging Contest in 1962. This qualified them as the team representing Iowa to judge in the contest at the National Dairy Cattle Congress, alongside teams from 35 other states. Barb belonged to different clubs in Butler, Grundy and Black Hawk counties, rotating each year through the 3 required 'girls projects' which included Home Furnishings, Clothing and Foods and Nutrition, besides being in the boys 4-H club which enabled her to have beef projects every year. One of the highlights of her summers was attending 4-H camp in Boone.

Following graduation from McPherson College in Kansas, Lee began farming. After Barb graduated from UNI they were married on August 23, 1966. (49 years ago). Together the Millers developed Bar-Lee Farms of rural south Waterloo and had two children, Kathy and Grant, each who were active 9-year 4-Hers. Like her mother, Betty Ehmen before her, Barb volunteered her leadership for years in the Orange Blossoms club. Lee served for decades on the Black Hawk County Fair Board. Together the couple was given Black Hawk County 4-H Alumni Award several years ago.

Their experiences make them advocates for 4-H involvement. Barb said, "We've seen how it can enhance lives. When our daughter Kathy first started in 4-H, her friend, Kelly would come from Minnesota to stay with us for the week of fair.  She did that for a couple of years and became so interested in 4-H she joined a club in the Twin Cities. Today her 3 children are 4-H members and Kelly, who has worked for Extension, is also a judge including the Minnesota State Fair."

Although she first began with a teaching career, Barb now enjoys working at Iowa Show Productions. Both she and Lee love spending time with their 7 grandchildren.

Solid and respected citizens of their community the couple volunteer with an assortment of other organizations including Black Hawk County Cattlemen's, Rotary, Kiwanis, church board, Co-op board, Cedar Valley Business Association and McPherson College Board of Trustees. We salute and honor the service of Barb and Lee Miller to Black Hawk County!