Miller wows at welding

PERKINS TWP. — Whether with welding or animals, Braxton Miller's multifaceted talents shine the brightest on the biggest stage. This week at the Erie County Fair, Braxton, a rising sophomore at Margaretta High School, took home several awards. Most notably, he won: • First place, topping nine other submissions, in a junior fair exhibit competition; His welding project, labeled Arcs and Sparks, produced an A-framed firewood rack. Because he won the best welder, Braxton — which marks his first entry in welding in any capacity — qualified for entry in the Ohio State Fair's welding category because of this project. • Second place, also known as a reserve champion, in the turkey heavyweight division; This marks Braxton's fourth consecutive second-place finish in this class, which impressed the judges with his consistency in showing and caring for turkeys. He also won a second-place for showmanship with turkeys. • Other accolades in the cattle and poultry categories "I like welding, but I'm mainly here because of my animals," said Braxton, noting his welding project and turkeys will be up for auction Friday at the fair. "I love animals," said Braxton, who belongs to the Margaretta Livestock organization, a part of the Erie County 4-H youth development network. "Even though it's a lot of responsibility, I do enjoy it. It teaches you a lot of valuable things. Even though getting first is hard, it's not what you should aim for. You should just want to take the best care of your animals." Among those truly happy about Braxton's recent accomplishments would be his father, John Miller. John helps Braxton and his siblings raise their animals on the family's Castalia-area property. "I am so proud, especially because everything is harder for him. Nothing comes easy," John said. "He has to try that much harder, and that's what makes this all great." John referenced a vehicular crash occurring in 2019 that involved Braxton and his siblings. Braxton became paralyzed from the mid-chest area down due to incapacitating spinal injuries. To this day, he needs a wheelchair to get around. At the fair, many took notice of Braxton's wheelchair, which resembled a large green John Deere tractor. Braxton never lets his condition prevent him from pursuing any passion he desires. This would include showing animals at the fair and finding possible career interests, like welding. "I'm 100% capable of still doing things," said Braxton, who's also a member of Margaretta High School's sporting clay shooting club. "I just consider the accident the end of one era. I'm in a new one now. Yes, I miss being able to walk, but I've learned how to live life after the accident, and, in a lot of ways, I am better because of it. That's something no one can take away from me."