Dr. Maurice Eastridge, Professor, Department of Animal Sciences, The Ohio State University
In 1952, The Dairy Hall of Service was formed at The Ohio State University to recognize individuals who have made a substantial and noteworthy contribution toward the improvement of the dairy industry of Ohio, elevated the stature of dairy farmers, or inspired students enrolled at OSU. The 2025 recipient is Joe Miley, a dairy farmer from West Salem, OH. He was recognized on Friday, April 11 during the annual banquet of the Buckeye Dairy Club held at the Fawcett Center on the Columbus campus.
After graduating from The Ohio State University in 1982 with a degree in dairy science, Joe returned to the farm and began his career as a successful purebred dairy cattle breeder. He has provided service and leadership to many leading dairy organizations. He has been a member of the Ohio Holstein Association for more than 30 years, having served as president, treasurer, District 7 Board representative and sale chair, as well as a member of several other committees. He has served as a delegate to the National Holstein Convention many times and has participated in many district, state, and national shows over the last 40 years. Joe was honored with the Ohio Holstein Association Distinguished Service Award and both the Junior and Senior Buckeye Breed Builder Awards.
He was elected in 2011 to the Board of Directors for the Ohio Dairy Producers Association (ODPA), the advocacy organization for Ohio’s dairy farm families. His leadership was quickly recognized, having served as chair of the ODPA Board since 2015. As a representative of ODPA, he volunteered his time to the Dairy Sub-Committee of the Ohio Care Livestock Standards Board during 2011-2012. On behalf of ODPA, he serves on the Ohio Dairy Research Fund Committee and the OSU Waterman Dairy Planning Committee.
In 2018, Joe was elected by dairy farmers to serve on the American Dairy Association Mideast Board of Directors to provide direction for the dairy promotion checkoff program. He has served as treasurer of the ADA Mideast Board since 2020. He also served as chair for the Smith Dairy Advisory Board for several years.
Joe has a passion for developing tomorrow's dairy student leaders. He and his wife, Diana, served as Ohio Junior Holstein advisors when their children were involved and as 4-H advisors to the Cream of the Crop 4-H Club for 10 years. Joe helped coach and host dairy judging practices for the Wayne County teams for many years, and today, he continues to host Ohio State ATI dairy judging classes and teams.
Joe is highly respected for his commonsense approach, his desire for progress of the dairy industry, his steady hand at leadership, and his great working relationship with the organizations he serves. He and his family are also well known throughout the state for success of the Miley dairy farm. Based on his service to the dairy industry, leadership to dairy organizations, and his commitment to Ohio State programs, Joe Miley is most deserving as a recipient of the Dairy Science Hall of Service award.