MARION COUNTY, MO: In #Agri-Ready Designated Marion County, Lacey Miller exemplifies the spirit of American agriculture and community leadership. As a fifth-generation farmer, Lacey embodies tradition and legacy with her unrelenting dedication to the land and those around her.
The Millers, her husband Nathan, and their kids Reed and Natalie have created a dynamic farming business that honors their history and forward-thinking outlook.
In a news release, Lacey provides some background information about our farming operation. Both of us have been farmers for many generations. Nathan grew up on his family’s farm, while I was brought up in production agriculture. He bought his own cattle after graduating from high school.
This early start set the stage for a journey that would culminate in their 2009 establishment of their own farm, a significant achievement.
According to her, Nathan and I had a hard time figuring out where we fit in with our separate family operations. In the end, we bought a farm in 2009 that we now call our own. Things have changed since then, and we are now active producers on the farms where we were raised.
A century-old farm acquired in 1906, Lacey’s family farm has a rich history. Nathan’s family farm is also approaching its centennial. With an emphasis on regenerative grazing, premium, low-input grass genetics, and a dedication to enhancing the land for coming generations, the Millers manage herds of South Poll cattle that are both registered and commercial.
They operate in a way that is both inventive and traditional. They keep some calves to fatten, but they mostly sell yearling feeder calves. By taking part in the Show-Me Select Replacement Heifer campaign, companies are experimenting outside of their conventional marketing strategy. Creating a herd using only registered South Poll cattle seedstock is their aim. As 4-H members, Reed and Natalie take part in the family farm and exhibit superior livestock.
It’s about legacy for me as a fifth-generation family farmer. With blood, sweat, tears, and their lives, my family purchased the land. Miller said that the land was theirs, not mine. Protecting and preserving what they sacrificed for is my responsibility.
Her activism and leadership are infused with her stewardship zeal. Lacey has held positions on the Missouri Farm Bureau Beef Commodity Committee, the Marion County Farm Bureau board, and as a young leader for the Missouri Corn Growers Association. For more than 20 years, she has served as a leader and mentor to 4-H youngsters. In 2024, Lacey stood for Marion County Western District Commissioner, winning on a platform of openness, rural values, and sustained community investment because of her dedication to her county.
Ralph Griesbaum, Lacey’s father, spearheaded Marion County’s 2016 #Agri-Ready County Designation campaign because he recognized the importance of embracing agriculture. Agri-Ready Designated Marion County’s agriculture supported 2,167 jobs, generated $336 million in economic output, generated $110.5 million in household income, and contributed $144.4 million to the county’s overall value added, according to the 2021 Missouri Economic Contribution of Agriculture and Forestry Study.
Lacey is quick to respond when asked how farmers can help ensure agriculture’s continued success.
In the end, farming is a business. It is not sustainable if it is not profitable. “The legacy dies if it is not sustainable,” she argues. We must encourage a paradigm change. Although agriculture will always be a part of our lives, we must help and inspire the next generation to realize that life is more than just farming. Profitability and work-life balance are important.
Lacey talks openly about accepting change: You don’t have to do things a specific way just because your dad and I did it that way. In order to respond to the land’s production cycle, we must interact honestly with our children. Their tasks might not permit or necessitate the same strategy. We perform better as we gain knowledge, and while we never lose sight of our origins, we also welcome the direction that the legacy will lead us on the subsequent part of the journey.
By working on the farm, in the community, and as a mother and mentor, Lacey Miller is fostering not only cattle and crops but also a vision for a robust, resilient, and sustainable agricultural future that is anchored in Marion County and will be passed down through the generations.
