“I’ve always loved agriculture. I’ve always just wanted to farm my whole life,” Miller said. “When it’s in your blood, it’s more than just a job or profession. You feel like you’ve got a moral responsibility, and you owe it to the rest of society.”

As the station superintendent, Miller now has an opportunity to lead the station in the many ways it contributes to society as home to a variety of research projects. Projects help farmers glean better yields and profits but also benefit consumers, as higher yields better meet the needs of a growing populations.

“Kyle will be a great superintendent because of his experience and his love of agriculture. That experience includes working at the Mountain Research Station part time in high school and college and later becoming a fulltime employee in 2011,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Our research stations serve as platforms for projects aimed at keeping North Carolina agriculture as productive and profitable as possible, and I know Kyle is more than capable of leading that work.”

Miller, who grew up in the Canton area and graduated from Pisgah High School, earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural extension and education from N.C. State University in 2006. After working in construction and teaching high school agriculture, he began working full-time at the Mountain Research Station as a research specialist. In 2017, he moved to the livestock and forage manager position where he remained until his promotion this summer. He and his wife Maria have twin 9-year-old boys named Jack and Walker.