EMPOWERING
THE FUTURE

Empowered from local FFA to global agriculture.

Named National FFA Western Region Vice President in 1979, Elin was only the third fe­male member to hold a national office in the National FFA Organization. A self-described “city kid” in Arizona, who fell in love with agri­culture, she found her place in FFA and went on to get her bachelor’s degree in agronomy and plant protection from the University of Arizona.

“Even back then, when often I was the only woman in the room, I have always found FFA to be so inclusive and welcoming, providing opportunities for everyone,” Elin says. “FFA embraced me and gave me a voice.”

FFA also gave her the understanding and knowledge of agricul­ture, the leadership abilities, the collabo­ration skills and the experiential educa­tion to embark on a career that has been a successful international journey through the industry.

“Opportunities to understand the differences and the similarities in agriculture across the world makes for better outcomes and a better place for us all to live,” says Elin.

She has held executive positions as global vice president of public affairs for Dow Chemical, as vice president of Asia Pacific for Dow Agro- Sciences and as CEO of Arvesta. She received a presidential appointment as an Environ­mental Protection Agency regional admin­istrator and co-chaired the National Climate Change Committee. She also served the governor of California as director of the department of conservation.

Presently, she serves on a variety of for-profit and nonprofit boards, including Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture, Oregon Wine Council, and Fall Creek Farm and Nursery. She is the founder/principal of Elin Miller Consulting, LLC, and is serving a gover­nor-appointed role on the Oregon State Board of Agriculture. And she’s a farmer — for 23 years, the Millers owned a 38-acre hazelnut farm, and they currently co-own Umpqua Vineyards, LLC, in Umpqua, Ore.

Empowered to support FFA.

The Millers are loyal financial contributors to the National FFA Foundation and have been for nearly 30 years. They donate annually, have made several major gifts and, in 2022, were recognized as being among the highest level of National FFA Foundation donors in the President’s Circle (gifts of $50,000+). They are also longtime supporters of the Arizona FFA Foundation and support the tens of thou­sands of Oregon FFA members and 150+ agriculture teachers in their home state; Elin is the immediate past chair of the Oregon FFA Foundation.

Having been so ingrained in all levels of FFA, Elin says that it has given her a unique per­spective to see all the different pieces that must work together for the greater good. She believes that the relationship between the national organization, the state associations, and the local chapters is stronger now than ever and that FFA Alumni engagement at every level further solidifies that all entities are unified with a common goal. All those con­nections, she says, have a positive impact on agriculture educators and FFA members.

“We encourage others — if they can — to sup­port FFA chapters, state associations and the national organization,” Elin says, “because it takes them all to create the environment that FFA members need to succeed. You need that support at the local level and in states to move forward; and you need a strong National FFA to really complete it.”

Empowering agricultural education.

For FFA members to get the most out of their experience, to gain what Elin calls the “dra­matic impact that FFA has on lives,” the Millers strongly believe in championing another im­portant aspect of FFA and agricultural educa­tion — agriculture teachers.