A new cash award intended for local 4-H and National FFA Organization, formerly Future Farmers of America, members pursuing a career in farming or an agriculture-related profession bears the name of a giant of the Butler County agricultural community.

The LeeRoy Miller Youth Legacy Award offers $500 to one individual looking toward working in a broad range of careers “in farming or an ag-related profession, such as machinery repair, ag sales or marketing,” according to the Butler Farm Show.

Applicants must have exhibited in any department of the Butler Farm Show for at least five years, according to the Farm Show, and must be exhibiting this year. 4-H applicants must be 17 or 18 years old, while FFA applicants should be 20 or 21.

“The people interested in this do not have to be going to college. It’s for someone interested in entering agriculture,” said Carol Miller, niece of the late LeeRoy Miller and member of the Farm Show’s board of directors.

“We just want them to be hoping to go into the local agriculture industry or something related, whether that be fixing machines or helping with a family farm or anything.”

The last surviving founder of the Butler Farm Show, Miller died 20 years ago this month at age 96. He was born in 1910 on his family's farm in Worth Township and was active in 4-H, particularly in the potato and dairy clubs. He received the Century 4-H Award as the oldest living 4-H male in Butler County.

Miller’s involvement in local agriculture and supporting those in 4-H and the FFA ran deep.

He was the first secretary-treasurer of the Butler County National Farm Loan Association, now Farm Credit, and served as general manager of seven counties for 40 years. He was also secretary-treasurer of the Butler County Potato Growers Association for 10 years, the association director of the Butler County Soil Conservation District and was a charter member of the Butler County Junior Chamber of Commerce, where he chaired the Agriculture Committee.

Miller served as treasurer of Future Farmers of America Development Foundation for 40 years and treasurer of the FFA Scholarship Fund.

Chuck Miller, LeeRoy’s son, said his family felt giving back to someone in the farming and agricultural community was the best way to honor his father. He said his family wasn’t “looking for publicity” with the award and only wanted to give back to others.

“He passed away 20 years ago this week,” Chuck Miller said July 21. “We thought, ‘Gee, it’d be nice to have an award that goes back to somebody and helps them stay in farming, stay in the community.’ Not necessarily a scholarship though. We wanted the funds to go to somebody going to trade school or working on a family farm or something like that.”

Applications for the award were accepted through July 31.