![]() “We need to spend time with people who have different opinions than we do. “We need to educate people about what agriculture needs in order to produce food for the world,” Elin says. During that time, she served on the American Farmland Trust Board and was on the Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo President’s Cabinet as the representative for agriculture. Elin maintains a large garden at her home and works in a hazelnut orchard she owns with her husband, Bill.Īfter going to work for Dow Chemical, Elin ran public affairs globally for the company and then was in charge of the company’s ag business in Asia. She was a presidential appointee to an Environmental Protection Agency regional administrator post, overseeing Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Alaska. In her professional life, Elin was California’s chief deputy director for the Department of Pesticide Regulation and director of the state’s Department of Conservation, dealing with recycling, ag land conservation, and mining and oil regulations. While attending the University of Arizona, Elin was president of the College of Agriculture and student body vice president. She says learning parliamentary procedure from her FFA activities has been key in her leadership roles. “I wouldn’t have been successful in life had it not been for FFA.” ![]() “That piqued my interest in serving the industry that I supported,” Elin says. She was elected to a national FFA office and served as the Western Region vice president early in her college career at the University of Arizona. She became an FFA member and was inspired by the leadership, speaking and motivational activities the program provided. “I was a city girl who grew up in Mesa, Arizona, started taking vocational agricultural classes and fell in love with agriculture,” Elin says. She served on the UCC board to honor her uncle, Laverne Murphy, who was one of the founding fathers of the college. ![]() Previously, Elin served on NeighborWorks Umpqua, which focuses on affordable housing the Umpqua Community College Board of Education and Umpqua Bank’s divisional board. She will be transitioning out of official roles in 2023. Retired corporate manager Elin Miller continues to advocate for the agriculture industry. She is a member of Oregonians for Food and Shelter, Douglas County Farm Bureau, Umpqua Valley Winegrowers Association and Communities for Healthy Forests. ![]() She is a board member of Fall Creek Farm and Nursery, one of the largest blueberry breeders and growers of blueberry plant starts in the world treasurer of the Forest Bridges board and a member of the advisory board for the Southern Oregon Wine Institute at Umpqua Community College. She credits her time in FFA activities during high school for the leadership roles she has taken through the years.Įlin chairs three organizations: Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture, an international group with a $50 million annual budget to help farmers in challenging areas of the world the Oregon FFA Foundation, which raises money to support FFA programs throughout the state and the Oregon Wine Council, which represents owners of about 50% of Oregon grapes grown and sold.Ģ years ago, Elin was appointed to the Oregon Board of Agriculture by Governor Kate Brown. “I’m excited that I’ve had the opportunities to serve in different leadership positions,” Elin says. At her nearby home, Elin enjoys digging in the dirt and growing vegetables and flowers in her large garden. The orchard and vineyard are in the Umpqua community of Lower Garden Valley. To give her mind a break, Elin enjoys working in the 38-acre hazelnut orchard she and her husband, Bill, own, as well as the 60-acre wine grape vineyard the couple co-own with partners. Retired from corporate management positions she held during her professional career, Elin, 62, remains busy speaking up in support of those areas for which she has a passion. Story and photos by Craig Reed Bill and Elin Miller are part owners of a 60-acre wine grape vineyard in the Umpqua community of Lower Garden Valley.Įlin Miller is an advocate, working and promoting on behalf of agriculture, education, forestry and those in need of affordable housing. Dedicated leader credits FFA for inspiring her multiple roles in the local community ![]()
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