John D. Miller (1850-1946)

Inducted: 1976

According to the late Senator Arthur Capper, John Miller ‘more than anyone else, is entitled to the credit for the drafting of the Capper -Volstead cooperative marketing law.’ He led the fight for the Capper-Volstead Act, the ‘Magna Charta of farmer cooperatives’ in his role as general counsel and first vice president of the Dairymen’s League. He also helped to create the National Milk Producers Federation and he later headed the National Cooperative Council, the predecessor to the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives. In each of these instances, Miller grew the small fledgling organizations into recognized and powerful organizations. These three major farm organizations stand as monuments to John D. Miller’s leadership and ability.