SPRING 2020 FEATURE ARTICLE

MIDLAND'S MARK WYSTRACH ON HIS RANCHING ROOTS

BY DEAN FISH

Mark Wystrach, lead singer for the wildly popular band Midland, is flying high! His band is currently the hottest thing going in the country music world and our little part of the world couldn’t be prouder. While Mark may seem like an overnight success since “Drinkin’ Problem” debuted, the road has been long and tough to get here. In fact, he owes his deep roots in agriculture, ranching and 4-H for the tenacity to “keep on keeping on”.

Mark grew up in cattle country near the town of Sonoita, Arizona in southern Arizona. His parents own the Mountain View Hereford Ranch as well as The Steak Out Restaurant. Since 1980, if someone wants either a great Hereford bull or a mouthwatering Kansas City Strip steak, the Wystrach family can provide it. One of six children of Grace and Mike Wystrach, Mark grew up on the ranch and in the steakhouse. When asked about how this background led Mark to his current success, he is very effusive in praise for his upbringing. In fact, when Midland opened the world-famous Houston Livestock Show this spring, Mark and his bandmates spent some time out on the stock show floor. It was easy to see Mark return to his roots and talk about the good Hereford cattle being exhibited and interact with those young people.

Mark talks about his childhood on the ranch with appreciation for the beauty and simplicity of the lifestyle. He talks about feeding calves before heading off to school and the hard work it takes to make a family ranch successful. While acknowledging the tough nature of the people it takes to be successful in agriculture, he also states that it isn’t work when you enjoy what you are doing. This background also helped to create a deep appreciation for nature and the land.

Mark showing Herefords as a young chap

©Wystrach Family

Mark Helping with the family herd

©Wystrach Family

One of the constants in Mark’s life has been music. Growing up around live music in the Steak Out helped to create an admiration and respect for musicians that honored the traditional sound of country music. You can hear this today in Midland’s music and is a reason that they are so popular with young and old fans alike. Some of the influences on a young Mark and his musical aspirations are Jim Koweek, Andy Hersey, Freddy Martinez, rocky and Slim Harper among many others. They laid the foundation for the sound that Midland has today.

While music industry success has been “surreal and overwhelming”, Mark is looking forward to being a father the most! He married the “only woman who works as hard as his mother” and you can hear the true love in his voice when he speaks of her. Having a child will help to focus on what’s important. (Editor’s note: Marks daughter was born shortly after the interview took place). Regardless of where his music career takes Mark, he wants to raise his daughter with the same values that he was able to be raised with. Mark has sure made southern Arizona proud and we look forward to cheering him on as he climbs further up the charts with his band! See ya next show!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Dean Fish is the ranch manager for the Santa Fe Ranch Foundation in Southern Arizona and owner of Anchor F Cattle Co. He is also a beef industry consultant and an advocate for youth and agriculture.