2 Seneca County natives inducted into ag hall of recognition

Don Hutzel and Carl Miller are this year's inductees into the Seneca County Agriculture Hall of Recognition. The induction ceremony takes place each during the Seneca County Fair. Donald Hutzel and his family moved to Seneca County in 1971 where he started working for NOBA Inc., according to information collected by Alexis Payne, county office administrator for Seneca, Wyandot, Hancock and Hardin county Farm Bureaus. Between 1971 and 2011, he worked for NOBA, 21st Century Genetics and Accelerated Genetics helping to advance the development, expertise and technology of raising cattle and addressing the challenges of livestock development. Hutzel's community involvement over the years includes leadership roles in the former St. Aloysius Church in Republic, PTA president for Seneca East's elementary school and sponsor for Circle E 4-H Club as well as serving on the board of directors for Rotary, as president of the former Betty Jane Rehabilitation Center and in all of the executive board positions for the Ohio Canal Society, an organization dedicated to the recreation, education, research and preservation of Ohio's historic canals. Other contributions Hutzel made to Seneca County agriculture include cultivating farmland by regrading/seeding the waterways throughout the farm, educating youth interested in cattle, exhibiting prize-winning purebred cattle and hogs in the open and 4-H divisions of the Seneca County and Ohio state fairs. He also advised farm families on best practices pertaining to raising livestock and consulted with families on the procurement and breeding of their cattle herds. He also co-authored a book, "Breeds of Cattle," a 400-page reference book that gives extensive information and images of 45 beef and dairy cattle breeds. Carl Miller, a Seneca County native, was born and raised on the farm that he owns and operates to this day. According to information collected by Farm Bureau, the only time he wasn't on the farm was during the four years he served in the U.S. Air Force. Carl and his wife have three children, who have helped greatly with the family farm. Miller has been heavily active in community with groups such as the Seneca County Parks District, where he helped maintain and develop the future of the present Seneca parks. He was president of Old Fort Lions Club and an assistant Scout master for an Old Fort Boy Scout Troop. He is actively involved with the Seneca County Junior Fair Livestock Sale Committee. He started the buyers group in 1992, raising thousands of dollars that were used to award youth projects at the sale for 14 years. He also has been active with Tiffin-Seneca-Sandusky Port Authority and U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary for 35 years. Currently, Miller is on the board for the Ohio Scenic Sandusky River Counsel and is active with Sandusky River Watershed Coalition and Water Management of Ohio. He has long-standing memberships with Seneca County Farm Bureau since 1961, Seneca County Izaak Walton League, Pheasants Forever, Ducks Unlimited, America Legion, Rocky Mountain Elks Foundation and Project Lifesaver.