At 17, Chase Miller is a Calgary Stampede veteran. As the main face behind Miller Show Cattle, the Olds High School student has competed his cattle at the greatest outdoor show on earth for the past six years.
But this year was his most successful. Competing in the Stampede as part of the International Youth Livestock Program, Miller was named supreme champion in the commercial beef category after topping the class during the Summer Synergy show in Olds.
“I had been working with that cow and calf for months,” said Miller, who calls Cremona home. “I’ve been bringing them in, growing their hair and keeping them exercised. Still, I didn’t expect to win. I just wanted to do my best.”
Following his win in Olds, Miller was recognized during the Stars of Agriculture reception.
He said he was awarded an $8,000 scholarship, along with $500 cash and a handful of prizes. He said he plans to reinvest the $500 cash prize into more cows.
The Grade 12 student hopes to make good use of the scholarship, with plans to study agriculture sciences at Lethbridge College. Eventually, Miller said he’d like to follow in the footsteps of his father, veterinarian Dr. Don Miller.
And he’s already well on his way. Chase’s Miller Show Cattle has collected a small herd of elite cattle that he manages himself. He has a herd of about 25 head.
“Chase is completely in charge,” said his father. “He makes all the breeding decisions and all the management decisions.
“Chase understands the industry from the ground up.”
Chase credits his father for instilling in him the inspiration and independence needed to develop his cattle company.
“I’ve been around the best and breeding the best since I was a kid,” said the well-spoken teenager. “I like working with both the people and the livestock.
“For me, it’s really about working with the animals. It’s therapeutic for me to get out there. Winning the whole deal is pretty rewarding, but I really enjoy all the preparation.”
During the Summer Synergy show, Chase was showing PCC One Canadian, a Maintainer, a Maine Anjou crossbreed. This is not the cow’s first success in the show ring.
Last season, she was named reserve grand champion in the Maine category at Canadian Western Agribition’s First Lady Classic.
