Melissa Miller brings common sense and horse sense to her work as the Mower County Extension Service’s 4-H summer assistant.

Monday, June 25, 2001

Melissa Miller brings common sense and horse sense to her work as the Mower County Extension Service’s 4-H summer assistant.

Com-mon sense she has. Horse sense she has observed.

The new 4-H summer assistant knows horses.

"I grew up with them," she said. "My mom has had a love for them for years and she has taught me a lot about them."

So involved in horses is Miller that she is undecided whether to major in ag education or equine science at the University of Minnesota-Crookston, where she will be a junior this fall.

Miller is the daughter of Duane and Kim Miller, who live on a hobby farm south of Owatonna in Steele County. Her father works for Truth Hardware as a paint technician and her mother works for Owatonna Tool Co. as a production worker.

She has a younger brother, Michael, 19, who just graduated Owatonna High School this spring.

In her position as a 4-H summer assistant Miller will be assisting Mower County 4-Hers through the critical time of the year. Not only is there the annual Mower County Fair in August, but also various regional competitions. Then, the Minnesota State Fair looms ahead in September.

Miller was involved in Steele County 4-H for 13 years; mainly with her horse projects. She excelled and earned her share of trophies, plaques and purple ribbons, including honors at the state horse show.

Now, she is helping Mower County 4-Hers enjoy a positive experience in 4-H.

She just returned from a Heartland Cluster Camp at Lake Washington northeast of Mankato and is organizing the schedule of events for the popular summer day camps July 17 and 19 at Adams City Park.

She has already gotten to know local 4-Hers, including Amber Graff, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Randy Graff, and a recent selection to be a State 4-H Ambassador.

Miller knows how important the 4-H experience can be for a child or teen-ager.

"I was very shy," she said. "4-H changed me a lot. It gave me confidence and I learned communication skills and it helped me in so many ways that are still valuable to me."

Miller has used the 4-H experience to help her expand her horse horizons with the Southeastern Minnesota Saddle Clubs Association, which named her Miss Congeniality at the annual competition in 1999. In addition, she was elected president of the U of M-Crookston Horseman’s Association this spring after serving a term as the organization’s vice president. The latter position allows her to work with Polk County 4-Hers on horse projects.

While one of her 4-H summer assistant assignments at the Mower County Fair is helping coordinate the dairy show, chances are Miller will be walking the rails around the horse arena giving 4-Hers tips on their horse projects every spare moment of her time.

"I enjoy working with youth," she said. "I also like agriculture a lot. I don’t know if I will become an ag teacher or work with horses."

Either way, the college coed will have the 4-H experience to count on.

Call Lee Bonorden at 434-2232 or e-mail him at lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com.