Each month, we highlight an Ohio 4-H alum who has an amazing story to share—from their personal experience in 4-H, to how they have given back to the program. This month, we feature Emily Miller, a proud alumna of Ashtabula County 4-H who currently works as a veterinarian at the Geneva Veterinary Clinic.
“4-H has been an important aspect of my family history for multiple generations,” said Miller. “My grandmother was a very strong advocate of 4-H for many years. She taught my twin sister Rachel and me about the values of leadership, a sense of purpose, and the life skills learned in 4-H.”
Miller’s father followed in her grandmother’s footsteps as a member of the Lucky Horseshoes 4-H Club and Miller went on to serve as a member of the Running 
Free 4-H Club for seven years.
With a passion for horses, Miller took various equine projects over the years. From raising foals to completing the saddle horse project, light horse selection, and hippology, Miller did it all when it came to exhibiting horses.
“Light horse judging was my favorite 4-H activity,” said Miller. “Rachel and I were on the Ashtabula County horse judging team for many years and our team successfully competed at the state and national level, attending the 4-H Light Horse Judging Competition at the All-American Quarter Horse Congress and the Arabian Nationals.”
Miller was also selected to represent Ashtabula County at the Ohio State Fair, where she competed with her horse State of Confusion, also known as Mister. “This was one of my biggest highlights from being in 4-H. The honor of representing my county is most memorable because of the
dedication and time spent preparing for the State Fair,” said Miller.
When she considers the people who helped make these successes possible, Miller fondly remembers Dee Carlson, advisor of the Running Free 4-H Club, and Liz Webb, her horse judging coach.
“Dee’s dedication to serving the 4-H community was tremendous. She spent countless hours providing the best possible experience for all the club members and set high expectations for all members to do their best, respect others, and help the community,” said Miller. “Liz also made a strong impact on me as she shared her equine knowledge and judging experiences in a way that inspired me to evaluate a horse with respect to the breed, the purpose and overall function.”
Inspired by her love for horses, Miller attended The Ohio State University to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. After graduation she worked as an equine veterinarian for fifteen years before changing paths to become a 
companion animal veterinarian.
Miller believes 4-H was instrumental in guiding her down this career path. “The knowledge I gained through 4-H projects, judging, and hippology had an impact on my education by increasing my understanding of anatomy, biology, and animal husbandry,” said Miller. “4-H also provided a foundation for developing leadership, confidence, and communication skills that I apply today when leading my staff and speaking to clients and colleagues.”
Today, Miller is the mother to two boys who have been active in 4-H since they were Cloverbuds. “My husband Darren and I encourage them to choose projects that challenge them to grow their knowledge base, gain life skills, and explore new areas of interest. My sons, Colt and Finn, have learned about sewing, woodworking, archery, and beekeeping,” said Miller. “The projects they have completed also encourage us to spend time together as a family. We have our own apiary thanks to a honeybee project Colt took during his first year in 4-H, and woodworking and sewing projects have inspired the boys to create gifts for other family members.”
Outside of supporting her children on their 4-H journeys, Miller speaks to 4-H clubs on various topics related to veterinary medicine and serves as a 4-H project judge for Ashtabula County. She and her family also sponsor
a scholarship through the Ashtabula County 4-H Foundation in memory of her grandmother Yvonne H. Miller.
“My grandmother was an animal husbandry major at The Ohio State University and a lifelong supporter of 4-H, so we are using this scholarship to recognize the dedication of young women involved in agriculture through 4-H.”
“My twin sister Rachel and I encourage all young people to join 4-H because of the unmeasurable experiences we had together,” said Miller. “4-H offers a vast number of projects that may inspire a child to follow a career, help them discover a passion for a hobby, or push them to make friends with others who have similar interests. Our family is grateful for 4-H and the ways it teaches responsibility, dedication, and a sense of accomplishment while having fun.”