Rodney Miller, the creator and co-host of Small-Town Big Deal, has spent more than a decade crisscrossing America to spotlight the charm, resilience, and joy found in its communities.
Alongside co-host Jann Carl, former Entertainment Tonight reporter and anchor, Miller brings uplifting stories of everyday people doing extraordinary things to audiences nationwide. He recently spoke about his experiences to the Waycross Exchange Club.
Since its debut on September 6, 2012, on RFD-TV, Small-Town Big Deal has grown into a beloved program, airing weekly on more than 150 local stations — reaching 80% of the U.S. — and expanding globally through the Armed Forces Network since 2017.
Before stepping into the spotlight, Miller made his mark in the agricultural machinery industry, serving as CEO of Montana Tractors in Arkansas and McCormick International USA in Georgia. His entrepreneurial spirit continues to thrive through the Buford Corn Maze near Atlanta, a fall destination for families seeking fun and fellowship.
Miller often reflects on the maze as a metaphor for his own journey: “I did not take the straight path, and I had a lot of failures – but I never gave up chasing my dream.”
Born in McLeansboro, Ill., Miller grew up as a proud fourth-generation farmer near Benton. Raised by his parents, John Eugene and Elizabeth Emmagene Miller, in a home filled with faith, he considers his relationship with Jesus Christ “the greatest blessing in his life.”
His Southern Illinois roots run deep. He graduated from Akin Grade School, Benton Consolidated High School, and Rend Lake College, where he was honored as Alumnus of the Year in 2009.
Today, Miller and his wife, Kendra, live on a farm near Ocilla, Ga., while also operating farmland back in Illinois. Together, they cherish time with their three children and two grandchildren.
When he’s not filming or farming, Miller indulges his passion for restoring antique tractors and equipment, bringing them back to their original glory.
Behind the camera, in the cornfields, or tinkering with vintage machinery, Miller embodies resilience, joy, and the spirit of small-town America — proving that big dreams can grow from humble roots.
