Ohio farmer Jon Miller became a member of the National Corn Growers Association 30 years ago when he was 14 and filled out an application to compete in the corn yield contest.

In July, he was elected to the board that governs NCGA, joining two others from Ohio already on the board, Jed Bower of Washington Court House and Kelly Harsh of Delaware.

Miller is no stranger to leadership in the corn industry. He’s currently on the Ohio Corn Marketing Association board and has been an Ohio Corn & Wheat board member for 12 years. In 2022, Miller served as the chair of the Ohio Corn Marketing Program, where he represents District 10, encompassing Fairfield, Licking and Pickaway counties.

Additionally, in 2018, he was the president of the OCW Growers Association board of directors.

“Here at OCW, we have seen firsthand how Jon’s leadership has propelled us forward,” says Tadd Nicholson, executive director of OCW. “His extensive agricultural experience as both a grower and an advocate positions him to make a real, positive impact on the NCGA board and beyond.” 

Miller is a third-generation farmer from Pleasantville, Fairfield County, (from near Interstate 70 to Lancaster) on Miller Family Farms with his father, David, uncle Jim, and cousins Derek and Andrew. Together, they grow about 2,000 acres of corn; 2,000 acres of soybeans; and 700-800 acres of wheat.

Miller sees the value in serving and forming relationships. In Ohio, he credits past leadership and the corn checkoff in helping to invest in research, promotion, education and marketing, while striving to create new markets. “Today, we have seven ethanol plants in Ohio,” he says.

Commodity price is one of the greatest challenges ahead for U.S. corn growers, Miller says. “American corn growers have been so productive, we have a glut of corn in the countryside, and that’s showing up in a downturn in commodity prices,” he adds.

However, the ethanol market has been a bright spot in recent years. “It was one of the reasons I came back to the family farm from college, as it brought new opportunities for corn and a different type of income avenue,” Miller says. “We have hope for SAF [sustainable aviation fuel] in utilizing more corn, but that is not going to happen overnight.

At the forefront is expanding markets for American farmers and promoting the development of new technologies and products, he says, as commodity prices go beyond just the grower.

“What affects growers often has a ripple effect,” Miller says. “We’re seeing it with John Deere and other ag companies talking about layoffs. All of it is going to impact the rural economy for a while.”

Miller has been the president of the NCGA Corn Political Action Committee for the past three years. He serves on the NCGA Trade Policy and Biotechnology Actions teams, and the U.S. Grains Council's Middle East/Africa/South Asia A-Team.

In addition to his work with OCW and the NCGA, Miller is a founding member of the Ohio Corn & Wheat PAC, as well as a participant in the NCGA/Syngenta Leadership At Its Best program and the DuPont Leadership New Century Farmers program. 

“Relationships are huge, and I’d like to see more growers involved with the PAC — every farmer giving something,” he says. “We need to support those who support our way of life and living. Members of Congress pay attention when you’re there supporting them through contributions. We want to be a point of contact if they have a question on a bill. We want to be the one they reach out to.”

Beyond NCGA, Miller, who is married to Mindy and together they have three children, likes to put agriculture in the spotlight. He hosted the Luke Bryan Farm Tour in 2019, 2021, 2023 and has another concert coming Sept. 27.

“It’s always a great show, with up to 20,000 people showing up,” he says. “They rent the ground, about 120 acres, and I’ve got some early beans I’ll take off and plant to rye for the concert area and parking. It has been a lot of fun, and it gets people to the farm — it’s a unique opportunity.”