WATERLOO, Iowa — After a decade of dedicated service to Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area (SSNHA), Executive Director Cara Miller has announced she will retire effective Jan. 31, 2026.
During her tenure, Miller has guided the congressionally designated National Heritage Area, whose mission is to tell and preserve the story of American agriculture, through a period of significant growth and impact. Under her leadership, SSNHA has expanded to 119 Partner Sites across 37 counties, strengthened public awareness and engagement, and successfully relocated its headquarters to 305 W. Park Ave. in Waterloo. Miller also led the organization through its reauthorization with the federal government through 2037, securing long-term stability for the heritage area.
One of the most recent milestones under Miller’s direction was the creation of the Iowa Eats Food & Drink Festival, an annual celebration connecting farmers, producers, and culinary artisans with the public. The festival offers Iowans a dynamic way to learn more about where their food comes from and the people who help bring it to the table.
“It has been a privilege to spend the last 10 years of my career leading such an outstanding organization as Silos & Smokestacks,” Miller said. “We are lucky to have this National Heritage Area headquartered here in the Cedar Valley and in our state of Iowa. The impact Silos & Smokestacks has had both economically in the region and on agricultural tourism is profound. I am so proud to have been able to be a part of that.”
Miller emphasized that the organization’s success has always been grounded in teamwork.
“As in any job, no one does it alone. The staff at Silos & Smokestacks is outstanding. Whoever is chosen as the new leader will have a great team to work with as they—and the Board of Trustees—move the organization into the future.”
Reflecting on her decade of service, Miller shared several personal highlights, including:
- Visiting partner sites across the region
- Establishing SSNHA’s headquarters at 305 W. Park Ave.
- Hosting the Alliance for National Heritage Areas annual meeting in Waterloo in 2024
- Collaborating with board and staff to create the Iowa Eats Food & Drink Festival
- Working alongside “so many smart, dedicated, and committed trustees over the years.”
Following her retirement, Miller looks forward to spending more time with her daughter, who lives in Tempe, Arizona, and continuing her volunteer work as a reading buddy with third graders in Waterloo public schools.
Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area is one of 62 federally designated National Heritage Areas in the United States and is a member of the National Park Service National Heritage Area System. Covering 37 counties in Northeast Iowa, SSNHA works with sites, communities, and partners to preserve and share the nationally significant story of American agriculture. For more information, visit www.silosandsmokestacks.org.
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