Now on Exhibit at the History Room in the Avon Free Public Library

The Miller Family Farm of Avon is continuing a 70th-anniversary celebration with a special exhibit outside the Marian Hunter History Room of the Avon Free Public Library, 281 Country Club Road, through October 30, 2021.  Curated and installed by co-owner Cal Miller-Stevens, her daughter Camlyn and her niece, Capri Brighenti, the exhibit is a colorful walk through the time when family farms dotted the countryside in the Farmington Valley.

According to Miller-Stevens, it was in the 1930s when her father, Earl J. Miller, moved to Avon with his father and sister to the white house on the corner of Arch and West Avon Roads.  After serving in the military in WWII, Mr. Miller he worked various odd jobs to make ends meet.  He married Margaret, locally called Oma, and they settled in Terryville. But the death of Earl’s father opened up an opportunity to return to that white house and land and make set up a chicken farm.  Oma began selling eggs all over the Farmington Valley.  In 1955, they found themselves in a deal with another Avon farmer to acquire 300 turkeys and that led to what many in the Valley recall as the Miller Turkey Farm.  Eventually, the Farm had as many as 14,000 turkeys a year on that corner and a family farm business was launched.  They branched off in 1999 with a raw natural dog and cat food, “Oma’s Pride” and “O’Paws” sold locally and worldwide.

This exhibit is a wonderful view of farm life from the 1950s to today.  There are family photos from the humble beginnings to the more modern farm today; signs, posters, whimsical turkey-themed items, turkey statues, and more. “We were more than happy to share our family’s story and collection with the public. It was a wonderful journey putting this display together remembering all the good and rough times, but we prevailed and are still here today,” remarked Miller-Stevens who owns the Farm today.

Many in the Valley recall driving past their farm on West Avon Road in the Fall and seeing all the turkeys in the huge pen enjoying their free-range life.  A visit to Millers Farm was a family affair as time went on when they hosted tented sales of Thanksgiving foods for everyone’s table.  The exhibit is an homage to a long family tradition in Avon that everyone who passed by could take part over many decades.  Then when the pandemic hit one year ago, the Miller family pivoted and created a now-familiar “Thankful Turkey” initiative to support those in need.  Last year they were able to donate over 3,000 turkeys through Foodshare and are continuing this new tradition this year.

The Farm’s motto is “Everyone is Family.”  The exhibit is open during Library hours which are posted on the website:  https://www.avonctlibrary.info/