Millward hired as new extension agent

Michael Millward officially started work as the new Fallon and Carter County Extension agent on September 3.

Millward grew up in the small town of Bicknell in south central Utah. Growing up he was involved in 4-H and showed sheep and cattle at the county fair.

“When I was young, Suffolk sheep were the thing to have,” he told the Eagle on Monday.

Millward said that he learned many lessons while working in the mountains with cows and sheep, or working in the fields down in the valley growing hay that was needed to feed throughout the winter. Those lessons will be valuable for him as he transitions into his role as extension agent .

In high school, Millward focused on athletics. He took third place in the state of Utah for his wrestling weight class his senior year.

After graduating from high school, Millward attended Brigham Young University – Idaho. There, he received his bachelor’s degree in Wildlife, Range and Ecology, emphasizing in range. While completing his studies he also worked at the university livestock center for five years and spent his last year as the student manager responsible for all livestock and various class projects.

Millward then studied at New Mexico State University, where he earned a master’s degree in Animal and Range Science. At NMSU he spent time studying grazing distribution of cattle in large expansive pastures. In conjunction with his schooling at NMSU, he managed the 60,000 acre Chihuahuan Desert Rangeland Research Center near Las Cruces, New Mexico. There, he was responsible for the seed stock Brangus and Brahman cattle program.

After completing his master’s degree, Millward accepted a position with NMSU as a rangeland specialist working at the USDA Jornada Experimental Range Station. He said he first learned about becoming an extension agent while completing his undergraduate studies and realized that’s what he wanted to do while completing his master’s.

After finding the Fallon-Carter County Extension agent job posting online, Millward jumped at the opportunity.

Millward recently moved into a home just outside of Baker. He, his wife of nearly ten years, Hayley, and their two young boys, Colter and Jed, are getting settled in.

“I met Hayley at summer youth camp,” he said. “She plans on doing piano lessons here.” Hayley graduated with a music degree from Brigham Young University – Idaho.

Current plans for Millward are to keep extension office hours and times the same. He will be in Ekalaka every Tuesday and at his office inside the courthouse at Baker during regular office hours.

Millward said that he and his family are delighted to be here. He has already thought about some of the extension programs he hopes to bring to the area.

“We are very excited to be here and to have the opportunity to work and play with everyone in Fallon and Carter counties.”

Millward can be reached by calling the extension office at 406-778-7110.