CALF_News_February_March_2020

30 CALF News • February | March 2020 • www.calfnews.net young stockman R CALF NEWS PRESENTS R By Patti Wilson Contributing Editor Bryson Mills has a solid foundation and sterling work ethic. The Hulett, Wyoming native is currently a junior at the University of Wyoming, majoring in Animal Science. He is the son of Doug and Dena Mills. Ranch raised, Mills’ family has a herd of registered Angus cows waiting for his care and promotion after graduation. His family also operates a sawmill in their heavily wooded area. Mills sees opportunity around every corner, and sees it with cattle. Major challenges at the family operation include the reli- ance on leased grass, as well as intense competition for grasses driving up lease prices. The family would like to purchase land in the future, ensuring greater stability for their cattle unit. He explained that he had little access to 4-H programs while growing up, but was extensively involved in FFA, and showed market and breeding beef at county, state and national shows, as well as held several offices in his local FFA chapter. He belonged to the Merit Heifer Program and the Future Cattle Producers of Wyoming. Mills says with a smile that he “did all that,” meaning the youth events were available and he partici- pated in them and enjoyed them. Each organization Mills belonged to is scholarship-based and awards a heifer to qualifying youth. The Northern Inter- national Livestock Exposition’s (NILE) Merit Heifer Program requires recipients to raise their program heifer and show her back at the NILE the following year. These registered heifers are bred and kept by the youth to start their own herds. Future Cattle Producers of Wyoming maintains a similar program; records are emphasized with production in mind and heifers are likely to be commercial. Books are submitted back to the organization and the heifers are shown back at the Wyo- ming State Fair. Mills not only received one of the first heifers awarded, but has gone back to serve as an assistant director to the program and assume a mentorship role. Mills has received a heifer through each program. His com- mercial calf was donated by Redland Angus and a registered Angus by Neiman Cattle Company. The two organizations have had a positive impact on Mills; he clearly enjoys his live- stock and is grateful for the chance to participate in the youth incentive organizations. His registered heifer is still in produc- tion on the family ranch. Mills’ hopes are to someday expand upon the family’s cowherd. Due to their limited leased acres, their herd size is defined, for now. Therefore, the family has focused on quality. His explained that the advantages of Angus cattle make them more marketable than other breeds. Opportunities abound through support from the American Angus Association; price premiums for Certified Angus Beef, excellent maternal traits and a quality end product. Angus bulls are more market- able due to the combination of calving ease and growth, and demand in range country is consistent. Currently, the Mills bulls are sold privately. Social media is used in public relations and communication, and yearlings are marketed in the spring. Mills will likely expand upon their local customer base when he returns home. Presently, however, he works at the University of Wyoming Beef Unit, doing shop, metal and maintenance work. Mills’ goal is to achieve certification in both artificial insemination and embryo transfer. He would like to develop a reproductive physiology business to use in his own herd as well as others. He is planning an internship in the spring semester of 2021, and is available for interviews. Looking down the road, the young entrepreneur wants his herd to have balanced traits, be functional and fertile. Carcass traits will be pursued along with fertility, a job he says needs attention within the breed. Finally, Mills loves showing his own livestock and has pulled a trailer to every venue possible. He is clear minded about the “two different worlds” that the show ring and production agri- culture present, and says a bridge needs to be made between the real world and the show ring. He fully recognizes that showing is a good tool for promotion and he will have to strike a balance. If serious thought and plans are basic to success, Bryson Mills is well on his way to a long and booming career.  As an animal science student at the University of Wyoming, Bryson Mills is able to attend area agricultural conferences. He was photographed here in Mitchell, Neb., the Four State Regional Range Cow Symposium.