DAFVM Spotlight Employee: Joseph Miller
Joseph Miller
Agricultural Technician II
MSU J.W. Starr Memorial Forest
Time at MSU/in position: 3 months
Joseph Miller found the perfect blend of passion and profession as an agricultural technician at Mississippi State University’s J.W. Starr Memorial Forest, a sprawling 8,321-acre living laboratory. Situated in Oktibbeha and Winston Counties, the forest is named after former MSU Forestry faculty member John W. Starr and is managed by the Forest and Wildlife Research Center. It serves as a resource for teaching, research, and demonstration, and Miller plays a crucial role in its upkeep.
Miller’s day-to-day responsibilities include mowing, clearing brush, building and maintaining roads, and performing other essential tasks to conserve the forest. His skillset is as versatile as the forest itself, involving the use of heavy machinery as well as a good deal of mechanic and fabrication work.
“You never really know what each day is going to bring, so you have to be prepared for anything,” said Miller.
Miller was introduced to land management as a young child. Until the age of 12, his family ran a cattle operation. That experience, combined with a family tradition of hunting, helped shape his understanding of managing natural resources.
“I’ve been doing this kind of work my whole life, and I love it,” said Miller.
Miller said his favorite part of his job is having a forest for his office. Spending his workdays surrounded by nature is a privilege he never takes for granted.
When he’s not at work, Miller’s love for the outdoors continues. He spends his free time running his squirrel dogs and coon hounds, often chasing the thrill of the hunt. When the weather is just right, he enjoys fishing and relaxing in the quiet of Mississippi’s natural landscapes.
Miller and his wife, Chelsea, have a one-year-old daughter, Lucielle, who is being raised to love the outdoors.
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