Cowboy hats, boots and even spurs peppered the crowd of ranchers, lawmakers and wildlife advocates at Miller Land and Livestock. The sixth generation ranch, nestled between Big Piney and the Wyoming Range, hosted a recent conservation event.

“We’re all about horses and cattle, but we really like our birds too,” said Mike Miller, who runs the ranch with his wife, Tara Miller, and the help of their sons, Will and Wes, and grandsons, Kaleb and Blu.

The Miller Ranch’s conservation efforts caught the eye of the National Audubon Society – specifically, their work to preserve bird habitat.

“Every year we have a [bird] family around our house. Last year was ferruginous hawk,” Mike said as birds chirped in the background. “This year, it’s an owl family. They’re really fun to watch. They’re pretty stoic individuals.”

The Audubon’s event was pegged as a “Sagebrush Celebration”, with a nod to the Miller’s recent ‘bird-friendly habitat certification from the Society. It’s a coveted title given to ranches who have prioritized conservation. The Millers said they couldn’t have gotten to this place without state and federal assistance.

“They all have been a godsend to ranchers,” said Tara to the crowd of about 70. “The help and knowledge we have gained from them is invaluable.”

This is noticeably a different tone from Wyoming’s growing number of lawsuits against federal agencies over conservation efforts and management of natural resources. Wyoming often argues that local knowledge isn’t being prioritized in these efforts.

But not at the Miller Ranch. In attendance was Gov. Mark Gordon, and he said this is an example of the system working.

“Wildlife migrates across federal, state and private lands, each with management objectives,” Gordon said to the crowd of ranchers, wildlife advocates and lawmakers. “It’s only when people come together, with leadership from folks like Mike and Tara, that we can actually get that solved on the ground in a way that makes sense to wildlife, because wildlife don’t understand red lines.”

The Millers are the 11th ranch in Wyoming to receive the Audubon recognition. The society highlighted the Miller’s strategic rotational grazing of their cattle.

“Short, intense grazing periods create patches of short vegetation suitable for species like the Burrowing Owl and Ferruginous Hawk,” according to an Audubon press release. “Extended periods of rest from grazing allow for taller habitat structures, benefiting species like the Lark Bunting, Loggerhead Shrike and Sagebrush Sparrow.”

Speaker of the Wyoming House Albert Sommers (R-Pinedale) also acknowledged the Millers’ efforts, saying collaboration is key for conservation.

“If we can’t find ways to work together, to preserve these working landscapes, we’re going to be in a far worse place than we are today,” Sommers said.

Right now, Wyoming is in talks with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) over a newly proposed sage grouse management plan. The goal is to prevent an Endangered Species listing. Science shows conservation of sagebrush and limited disturbance can slow the population’s decline.

A final version of the plan is expected in the coming months. Then, the work will start. That means collaboration between federal, state and local landowners, like the Millers.

Tara acknowledged all the hard work it takes to do so. It’s been a learning process since she married into the family 50 years ago.

“I was glad to be a cowgirl marrying a good looking, fun loving bronc rider and had little idea of the lifetime commitment I was making to a big ranch,” she said.

But Tara said she wouldn’t have it anyother way. The Millers have built a reputation for not only their ranching and conservation, but also their horse breeding program.

They won Best Remuda from the American Quarter Horse Association in 2021, which awards ranches across the country with top of the line home-raised ranch horses.

Just this year, Mike Miller was inducted into the National Reined Cow Horse Association Hall of Fame. He earned more than $623,000 and made it to multiple cow horse final showing events since the late 1980s – all achieved on horses bred and raised on their wildlife-friendly ranch.

Wyoming’s WIC Program Helps Thousands of Families

June 27, 2024

Free nutritious foods and education, breastfeeding support and healthcare referrals are offered to thousands of families across the state by the Wyoming WIC Program, operated by the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH).

The Wyoming WIC Program features free, easy-to-use benefit cards participants can take to local stores to get nutritious foods at no cost. Some WIC families also are eligible for infant formula benefits. WIC is aimed at helping women who are pregnant or new moms, infants and children up to age 5.

Tina Fearneyhough, WIC program manager with WDH, said “We know WIC services can significantly improve participant health while also helping people feed their families during a key period of child development.”

Fearneyhough described ongoing efforts to modernize and help make the program even more readily available for participating families. “We now offer virtual appointments to our WIC participants if needed or requested and have developed consistent digital resources our staff can use to help WIC families,” she said. “Later this year we will offer new cards with enhanced, user-friendly technology and we think participants will like the upgrade.”

Wyoming WIC serves families with incomes up to 185 percent of the federal poverty income guidelines. Qualifying income guidelines for WIC have been updated effective July 1:

1 person family -$27,861/year or $2,322/month

2 person family -$37,814/year or $3,152/month

3 person family -$47,767/year or $3,981/month

4 person family -$57,720/year or $4,810/month

5 person family -$67,673/year or $5,640/month

Families already using SNAP, TANF or Wyoming Medicaid benefits also qualify for WIC.

“Our income guidelines are adjusted each year. Our new guidelines may help a few more families to be eligible for WIC benefits,” Fearneyhough said.

Wyoming residents can apply for WIC benefits at https://health.wyo.gov/publichealth/wic/apply-for-wic/. WIC is not just for moms; all caregivers of young children are welcome to apply, including dads, foster parents, guardians, grandparents and step-parents.

WIC is officially known as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children Program, and is a joint federal and state government effort under the USDA.

WIC clinics are located throughout the state and can be found by using the “Clinic Locator” online at https://health.wyo.gov/publichealth/wic/wic-clinic-locator/ or by calling 1-888-996-9378.

Wyoming resident Cody Woolard – @rednecklown – posts footage of the flora and fauna near his home. He’s posted clips of bears, snakes, elk and coyotes, but by far the scariest thing he’s shared is a clip of a moving fault line.

Unfortunately, the original was deleted, but Knightbear49 posted a copy on r/TikTokCringe.

A fault line is moving in Wyoming
byu/Knightbear49 inTikTokCringe

What in the Sunnydale Hellmouth is going on there? And why did he film it instead of running away like Usain Bolt on a downhill slope?

Reddit had many, many thoughts.

Well time to add that to the list of sentences that trigger my fight or flight response.
GooglyOldBread

Welp, it’s been nice knowing y’all.
GaySpaceCrow

Naw you just have a tremor infestation.
Nickblove

Wow this is crazy to actually see.
NoIntern4400

Learn to swim, see you down in South Dakota Bay.
StaticLynx

And why are you walking down a fault line?
No-Juice-458

THANKS, OBAMA.
GraemeKnows

This is super fascinating, thanks to the cameraman for sharing!
nominalverticle

Be cool if the neighbor’s pool suddenly was in your back yard after a good shaking…. I’ll let myself out.
TotallyNotABotAccount

That’s how you die in movies.
GrilledAvocad0

Well shit. Guess 2012 is happening 12 years late!
PupperPetterBean

Man he buried the lede here. I was wondering if he got pranked by someone digging a trench until he showed the road.
QueryCrook

EroticSouls added to our nightmares.

Does this mean the Yellowstone super volcano is finally going to blow and put an end to all our suffering?

READ MORE

Just watching this terrifying climb is enough to give you nightmares

Source r/TikTokCringe Image Screengrab