Hampton teacher honored as state’s top FFA educator

Miller earns Golden Owl Award for ag education leadership

Hampton ag teacher Joel Miller, pictured here in a 2024 ANR photo, observes as Alana Wiarda preps feed for the Hawk Herd, a project Miller and his students have prided themselves on for seven-plus years.
Hampton ag teacher Joel Miller, pictured here in a 2024 ANR photo, observes as Alana Wiarda preps feed for the Hawk Herd, a project Miller and his students have prided themselves on for seven-plus years.

After 22 years in the classroom, 19 of them at Hampton, Joel Miller has been awarded one of the top honors for agriculture educators. Miller was named the 2025 Nebraska Golden Owl Award recipient, an honor given to one outstanding ag teacher each year, along with a $3,000 cash prize. Selected from a field of 47 nominees and six statewide finalists, the award recognizes Miller’s dedication to stude…