The ChampionDrive Podcast – Episode 3.8
Guest: Trey Miller (TKM Livestock)
Aired: December 4, 2025 | Host: Championdrive.com
Episode Overview
This episode features Trey Miller of TKM Livestock (Ohio), with an engaging deep dive into his journey as a breeder and trader in the show lamb industry. The conversation touches on a range of topics: from Trey’s infamous mullet and family roots to cutting-edge reproductive technologies like IVF, the importance of ewe families, mindset and coaching youth, and practical insights for both breeders and exhibitors. Plus, updates on the Show Lamb of the Year contest and a candid product spotlight with Show-Rite’s Cooper Newcomb.
Key Topics & Takeaways
1. Industry News & Announcements (00:10–14:37)
- Recap of a busy fall in the show lamb world: open house events, sales, breeder news, and product spotlights.
- Promotion of Show Lamb of the Year Contest voting.
- Sponsor highlight: Show-Rite and their new product "Colossal."
Notable Quote:
"If you miss a day at championdrive.com, you miss a lot." — Podcast Host (13:36)
2. Product Spotlight: Show-Rite's "Colossal" with Cooper Newcomb (04:15–09:25)
- Colossal: A colostrum-based supplement with added vitamins, minerals, selenium, and zinc — supports intestinal health, especially during stress (scours, travel).
- Feeding Recommendations: Daily top-dressing for immunity; increased drenching during stress or off-feed events.
- Tips: Refrigerate mixed product; ideal for both home maintenance and show prep; available online and nationwide through Show-Rite dealers.
Notable Quotes:
"Colossal is a colostrum-based product...to cope with stress, from getting scours on the road to shrinking or losing weight as you travel—it'll help keep them on track."
— Cooper Newcomb, Show-Rite (04:29)
"The important part...whenever you have an issue like this, you want to increase the amount of Colossal that you're actually utilizing because it is good for the gut."
— Cooper Newcomb (07:40)
3. Introduction to Trey Miller & The Great Mullet Saga (14:37–16:55)
- The origin and retirement story of Trey’s mullet—a fun icebreaker reflecting his willingness to try new things (and keep it lighthearted).
- Family reactions: Wife relieved, daughter “very sad.”
Notable Moment:
"I came home from the barbershop...and my wife was like, what is on your head? And I was like, I'm growing a mullet."
— Trey Miller (15:38)
4. Trey's Backstory & Entry into the Sheep Industry (17:02–19:37)
- One of seven siblings, transitioned from hog showing to sheep thanks to local influencers.
- Early lessons on investing (and overspending) in show animals; learned the importance of guidance and mentorship.
- Gradual shift into helping other families and building a mentorship-based legacy.
5. Building TKM Livestock: Breeding Program Insights (19:37–23:53)
- Now in their 6th/7th lamb crop; growing emphasis on ewe families and donor power.
- Strategic flock turnover: kept only top donors and replacements to increase genetic consistency.
- Adoption of AI, ET, and now IVF reproductive technologies for maximizing quality.
Important Strategy:
"We turned over our whole flock this year, except for a couple of our mainstay donors, just because I felt like we weren't good enough..."
— Trey Miller (19:55)
6. The Power of Ewe Families & IVF/ET (21:20–30:38)
- Ewe families, tracing genetics, and focusing on maternal lines has been transformative for both Trey and the host.
- Discussion of IVF vs. conventional flushing: IVF for “roller coaster” ewes or those with show backgrounds who may not flush well.
- The generation interval advantage with IVF—faster multiplication of elite genetics, flexibility for both in-season and out-of-season reproduction.
Notable Quotes:
"...the power of the uline is where it's at..."
— Trey Miller (45:10)
"The generation interval is the most intriguing part to me...I feel like with this IVF deal we can, you know, replicate that so much faster..."
— Trey Miller (29:17)
7. The White-Faced Sheep Ambition (31:24–33:12)
- Trey’s inspiration for investing in whiteface sheep comes from his daughter’s love for this type—demonstrating the influence of family on breeding goals.
"...if she loves them this much and I want her to stay in love with them, I need to get...in head first."
— Trey Miller (32:18)
8. Parenting, Mindset, and Coaching Kids in the Show Ring (33:12–40:08)
- Coaching your own kids vs. other people's kids: balancing tough love, patience, and the emotional ups and downs.
- Differences in personalities among children; need to adapt coaching styles accordingly.
- Importance of progress, celebrating small wins, and keeping experiences positive to foster longevity.
Notable Quotes:
"You got to love your kids first, and they got to know that they're loved to be able to coach them hard."
— Trey Miller (34:14)
"You can coach on them hard, but you've got to love on them hard too."
— Podcast Host (38:06)
9. Selecting and Investing in Bucks (40:08–42:55)
- Decision to buy into proven or buzzworthy bucks depends on both economics and the quality of partnership.
- Recognizes downside of overpaying in a hyper-competitive market and upside in picking the right co-investors.
"...it's got to make sense at the end of the day because, you know, whoever's housing the buck is going to get...60% of that cut. So it takes a long time to cash flow a buck that's...[$50-100k]."
— Trey Miller (41:09)
10. Challenges, Advice, and Mindfulness for New Breeders (43:01–46:53)
- Biggest challenge: Avoid wasted investment in ewes or lambs lacking proven family lines.
- For newcomers: Work within your means, find trusted mentors, focus on genetics, and build collaborative relationships.
"Don't borrow money to get into sheep...get with someone you trust, someone that...will answer your questions, talk through strategy, tell you what's worked."
— Trey Miller (45:10)
11. Road Trips & Barn Environments (46:53–53:52)
- Memorable travel mishaps (blizzards, getting stuck at breeders' homes).
- What makes a barn attractive for buyers: air quality, lighting, organization, flock health, and efficient use of space (not just about fancy new facilities).
- For families: ability to individually feed, facilitate exercise, maintain air quality, and be coachable.
"Air quality, air quality, air quality, air quality. I cannot preach it enough..."
— Trey Miller (51:34)
12. Evolution in Show Lamb Industry (55:34–60:20)
- Margin for error/shade between winning and placing is incredibly slim now—across all classes and shows.
- Kids and families now treat showing as their main “sport,” driving up standards of care and preparation in every detail (from feeding to fitting).
- Few breeders now travel/buy in person—those who “put in the miles” have a competitive edge.
Notable Quote:
"Winners do everything they can and wonder if they've done enough. Losers do a little and think they've done it all."
— Podcast Host, quoting Jake Richardson (58:29)
13. Mindset & Control (60:20–61:05)
- Emphasis on controlling the controllables, focusing on the journey, and not tying fulfillment solely to trophies or outcomes.
"If you're not putting on the miles as a family or working together as a family...your journey is not going to be very fun and you're never going to achieve the trophy."
— Trey Miller (59:18)
14. The End of Ohio’s State Fair Weight Limit (61:05–63:55)
- Removal of the weight cap will recalibrate the “standard deviation of champions” over time—but Ohio’s sheep, matured for 132–137 lbs, remain highly competitive nationally.
- Proven ability for Ohio-breds to thrive both in and out-of-state.
15. Favorites & Personal Life (64:00–66:58)
- Trey’s favorite shows: Ohio State Fair (“special place in my heart”), Iowa State Fair (“sheep show meets Nashville”), and Kansas City (“feel like you have one that can play”).
- Outside Sheep: Senior Financial Officer at Farm Credit Mid America, Pro Staffer at Weaver, dad/dance-teammate/proud family man.
"Berkeley's a good dancer, you know, in her little ballet and all that stuff. She's very meticulous and whatnot. So I'm proud to hand her a big bouquet of flowers when she's done and she's all giddy."
— Trey Miller (66:17)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (timestamps in MM:SS)
-
On the Mullet:
"I came home from the barbershop...my wife was like, what is on your head?...She was like, are you cheating on me?"
— Trey Miller (15:38) -
On Parenting & Coaching:
"You got to love your kids first, and they got to know that they're loved to coach them hard."
— Trey Miller (34:14) -
On Mindset:
"If you're not putting on the miles as a family...your journey is not going to be very fun and you're never going to achieve the trophy."
— Trey Miller (59:18) -
On Sheep Industry Changes:
"The biggest change has been just that margin of error is so small...one class at Louisville where I think he pulled 22 head out of the class to line up."
— Trey Miller (55:34) -
On Ewe Families:
"...the power of the uline is where it's at because sometimes we make buck decisions that maybe didn't work, but there's still a couple that are, that are in there that'll work."
— Trey Miller (45:10) -
On New Breeders:
"Get with someone you trust, someone that you can...ask questions to, someone that is going to be a sounding board and not just take your money..."
— Trey Miller (45:10)
Timeline / Timestamps for Major Segments
- 00:10 – Industry News, Contest & Product Announcements
- 04:15 – Cooper Newcomb on Show-Rite "Colossal"
- 14:37 – Trey Miller Segment Begins (Intro, Mullet Conversation)
- 17:02 – Trey's Early Years in Sheep
- 19:37 – Building the TKM Program
- 21:20 – The Power of Ewe Families
- 24:52 – Flushing, IVF, and Donor Program
- 31:24 – Why Invest in White Face Sheep
- 33:12 – Mindset & Approach to Coaching Kids
- 40:08 – Buck Selection Philosophy
- 43:01 – Challenges, Advice for Breeders
- 46:53 – Road Trip & Barn Insight
- 55:34 – Industry Trends & Evolution
- 61:05 – Ohio State Fair Weight Limit Discussion
- 64:00 – Favorite Shows and Personal Life
Summary
This episode of The ChampionDrive Podcast is a must-listen (or must-read!) for anyone in the show lamb industry, from seasoned breeders to young exhibitors’ parents. Trey's insights on mindset, family, and adapting to changing industry norms are invaluable. The conversation balances humor and humility with practical, actionable advice, capturing the modern show stock experience—mullets, IVFs, road trips, and all.
For more:
Visit championdrive.com to follow Trey's flock, vote in the Show Lamb of the Year contest, or connect with featured products and breeders.