Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Tracey Miller, enjoying the rural lifestyle she advocates.
Tracey (Weber) Miller, a New Rockford native and daughter of Todd and Lori Weber, was recently featured in the July issue of the Union Farmer, a magazine published by North Dakota Farmer's Union (NDFU), in their WILD (Women in Leadership Development) Spotlight.
The writer, Brittany Lipetzky, discussed Miller's upbringing in Eddy County and her involvement in both the Farmer's Union EPIC day classes and the Farmer's Union Camps that she attended throughout high school.
Miller and her husband, RJ live in Bismarck, where she works as a government relations specialist at the engineering firm KLJ (formerly known as Kadrmas, Lee and Jackson). However, she and her husband are both still involved in the farming communities where they grew up and often spend their weekends on the farm, near New Rockford, tending to their cattle herd.
"We want to keep growing our herd. We started small but have let it grow and now are really starting to see it grow," Miller was quoted in the Union Farmer. "We want to stay involved in both of our family farm operations. And someday, we will be able to have the farm setting right out our back door."
Being active in community is very important to Tracey, and she is currently on the NDSU Extension advisory board; the Women in Leadership Program Alumni group through the Center for Technology and Business; University of Mary's Alumni group and Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce.
NDFU recently selected Tracey and RJ Miller as their representatives to the Farmers Union Enterprises (FUE) Leadership Couples Program. The FUE Leadership program is a 15-month course designed to enhance leadership skills and their understanding of NDFU, cooperatives and agriculture. Participants become strong advocates for their communities and Farmers Union.
FUE is an effort shared jointly with NDFU, South Dakota Farmers Union, Montana Farmers Union, Minnesota Farmers Union and Wisconsin Farmers Union. Each state selects one couple to represent them and to attend their five main events. The Millers started with FUE in June 2018 and will continue through Sept. 2019.
They've already attended a leadership training in Bismarck and will travel to Pierre, S.D in November for another training session. They will also attend the 2018 NDFU state convention before going to the National Farmers Union convention in Bellevue, Wash., in March. Then they'll travel to Wisconsin for leadership training before ending their travels with a trip to Washington, D.C. next fall.
One addition to that list is another trip to Washington, D.C. on behalf of Burleigh County Farmers Union to help lobby Congress on ag and farm related issues.
Union Farmer will be doing a feature on the Miller's selection as an FUE couple in the next few months.
Lipetzky closed her article by asking Miller what advice she had for women who want to get started in leadership.
Miller responded by saying, "Get started today. My philosophy is the grass is greener where you water it...start watering it. It will click when you realize you are around like-minded thinkers, and more people want you to succeed than you think. If you start thinking about others and wanting them to succeed, you'll realize people feel that way about you, too."
