The Fort Dodge Democrat said she was genuinely surprised when she was presented the award during the organization’s recent gathering in Brooklyn, New York.

“I am very pleased,” Miller said. “It’s one thing to get an award from your district, but this is a group of legislators from the entire country.”

Miller, who will retire from the Legislature when her term ends in early January, said the issues she championed during her 16 years in the Iowa House of Representatives transcend race.

“I’ve always said that I represent Fort Dodge, which doesn’t have many minorities. Well, you know, everyone wants education, jobs, child care,” she said. “They want good wages. They want quality of life. Don’t color code that.”

“It goes to show we have a lot in common,” she added.

In honoring Miller, the organization specifically cited her work to create the Urban Ag Academy, which brings minority lawmakers and legislators from big cities to Iowa to learn about how their food is produced. The first Urban Ag Academy was held eight years ago. The program, which is now part of the Helen Miller Agricultural Institute, will be held for the ninth time next year in Ames.