The View from a Utah Mink Ranch

By John Adkins Jr., Black Willow® Mink

Coalville, Utah: The 2004 mink pelt crop that sold for an average price of $48.50 was a wonderful blessing for mink ranchers. If you look at the National Agricultural Statistics Service figures you find that only four times in the last 20 years have pelt averages sold in the $40 range and only once have mink pelts averaged in the $50 range when they topped the chart at $53.10.

This upswing in the mink market world wide has given ranchers the opportunity to pay down debts, make improvements to their properties, and has increased their confidence in the future of mink ranching.

The high price of fuel has definitely had an adverse impact on the cost of producing a mink pelt, not only directly, starting with the fuel used on the farm, but also the indirect affect high fuel prices have on all commodities used for our business and personal needs. To this point, however, we have not adopted any alternate fuel sources.

On our ranch, located within the city limits of a small community, increased security has been in place for several years, so that expense is now viewed as just another item in the overall cost of producing a mink pelt.

Utah is the driest state in the nation and the community in which our ranch and four others are located has very limited water resources, so the city has established water rates so high they discourage ranchers from even staying in business. There is also a building and economic growth boom that has created soaring land values, and as we all know, property taxes rise with land values, adding to the burden of our operating costs.

The city has also adopted zoning ordinances and a future development code that prohibits any new mink farms from being established or the expansion of existing ranches.

Consolidation Has Ended

For those reasons, the period of farm consolidation is about over in Utah. Mink production has drifted downward in recent years, and if anyone considered consolidating or expanding a mink ranch in our area, I believe they would be better off finding a suitable area in southern Idaho that is served by feed deliveries from the Fur Breeders Ag Co-op.

Aging ranchers here have been trying to operate at unprofitable levels that discourage young members of their families from staying on the farm. The high cost of labor prohibits the hiring of outside help, especially in our county, where once we had an overabundance of labor, but now with the economic boom, a labor pool is non existent.

Fortunately the younger members of the Adkins family are interested in staying in the fur business.

The Adkins Black Willow ® Mink Ranch was founded in 1927 by John Adkins Sr., making this our 78th year. My father was truly a pioneer in mink ranching, very much involved in helping ranch raised mink pelts develop in to the wonderful industry it is today.

Our children have been involved in activities at the ranch from their early years, and we included them in trips to mink auctions and National Board meetings around the country. This developed within them a love and respect for this business, which will stay with them all of their lives.

A Passionate Son

Our son John Adkins III and his wife have more than just a desire to continue in mink ranching. They have real passion and love for the business and the heritage it represents. Our entire family looks forward to 2027 when we can celebrate 100 years in one of the most family oriented businesses on earth.

The mink ranching community is now and always has been made up of wonderful caring people with a desire to produce the best product possible and provide a good quality of life for our families. At Black Willow ® Mink Ranch our goal has always been to produce the very best natural black mink pelts with light weight leather that gives the finished garment the highest level of comfort and prestige possible.

Modern technology has made our life easier. Cell phones allow us to make and receive calls from anywhere. The use of the Internet is the greatest tool ever invented, allowing us to get our message out to the entire world at the lowest possible cost. We are now in the process of developing our own website and feel it will be our greatest aid ever in contacting interested parties and promoting our product worldwide.

We are blessed to have North American Fur Auctions and American Legend as marketing outlets for our mink. Both companies have management and staff experienced in preparing and marketing the finest mink pelts on earth, and have played big roles in bringing about renewed interest in mink fur worldwide.

Establishing Identity

The advertising programs of both auctions have been more than excellent, but one thing we still need to instill in the minds of fur garment customers is the value of producer labels. They are one thing that can assure the end user that the garments they purchase are manufactured from the very best skins available.

The fur trade in North America and world wide has played an important part in bringing renewed prosperity to mink ranchers. Dealers and brokers have canvassed the world in search of new customers to bring to auctions in North America.

They have acted as educators to these new customers who, for the first time, have been exposed to mink skins of such fine quality.

So, in behalf of the entire North American mink ranching community, I want to express sincere appreciation for jobs well done, and for bringing new prosperity to all mink ranchers.

EDITOR'S NOTE: John Adkins operates a model farm on 192 acres 5,600 feet up a small mountain on the outskirts of Coalville. Municipal authorities have made no secret that they do not see mink farming as part of the community's future, but in John Adkins and his fellow mink ranchers, they have good, decent, productive citizens who should be encouraged. FW

For further information contact: Teresa Platt, Executive Director, Fur Commission USA, 826 Orange Avenue, #506, Coronado, CA 92118 USA, (619) 575-0139, (619) 575-5578/fax, furfarmers@aol.com, www.furcommission.com.

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