Farmers earn a lot of respect from those who understand how much they do for the rest of us. It’s easy for us to think about the food and other products they provide, as well as the contributions farm families make to our communities. But it’s not always top of mind to think about their stewardship of this land we all share.

The Ohio Department of Agriculture recognizes it, though, and each year hands out Conservation Farm Family Awards. Among those honored for 2025 were the Brad and Matilda Miller family for their 400-acre farm on which there are 150 head of Blonde D’DAquitaine cattle, in Monroe County — “nestled among the hills of Wayne National Forest,” as Farm Progress put it.

The state Department of Agriculture says conservation practices at the Millers’ farm include livestock exclusion fencing, a nutrient management plan, grazing management plan, rotational grazing and wildlife habitat. They have also “implemented a pond watering system and a roofed heavy use feed pad for their operation.”

“Farm families have always had a deep respect for the land and resources they are entrusted to protect. The conservation practices that these families exemplify are a reminder that their steadfast work has a direct impact on their farms, their communities and all of Ohio agriculture,” said Adam Sharp, executive vice president of the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation. “We congratulate them and lift them up as examples of the dedication our Ohio farmers have to healthy soil and a safe and abundant food supply.”

The Millers are not alone, as there are plenty of Mid-Ohio Valley farm families working hard to take care of the land and us. But their award is an encouraging reminder of the effort such folks put in to go above and beyond on those fronts.

Congratulations, and thank you.