SIDNEY, Neb. — Tyler Miller never expected cooking to become his creative outlet.

Born and raised in Sidney, Miller graduated from Sidney High School before attending paramedic school at Southeast Community College in Lincoln. He completed the program in 2019 and returned home to work in emergency medical services, first in Sidney and later in Kimball.

While Miller says he still loves EMS work, the demands of the job eventually pushed him to reconsider his path.

“Decided EMS wasn’t for me anymore,” Miller said. “I still do it. I still love it. It was getting to the point where it was becoming a lot for me, so I decided to switch gears.”

That shift brought Miller back to his family’s farm in Cheyenne County, where he works full time alongside his dad, uncle and cousin. The farm, which has been in the family since the 1800s, produces crops including corn, wheat, millet, milo and sunflowers.

During that transition, Miller found himself leaning into a passion he had long carried but never fully pursued — cooking.

“In the process, I found my love for cooking I’ve always known I had, but never really took it to great heights,” Miller said. “After I started diving into more smoking and more catering-type foods, I really discovered how much I liked it.”

What began as backyard experimentation quickly grew. Miller started researching barbecue techniques, practicing through trial and error and eventually entering barbecue competitions in Potter and Dalton. His early success surprised him.

“I came in and won a few awards on those,” he said. “That really sparked my interest a little bit more. Ever since then, it’s just been uphill.”

Miller has since earned awards across several categories, including whole chicken, brisket, open class, and an overall category win at the Potter Carbowl. He soon formed First Response Meat Company, naming the business as a nod to his background in EMS.

For Miller, cooking provides a sense of calm he hadn’t found elsewhere.

“The first time I tried cooking a three-course meal, I just felt home in the kitchen,” he said. “I felt comfortable. I was relaxed. There was very little stress.”

That sense of grounding became especially important during a difficult period for his family. In the summer of 2025, Miller and his wife, Kali, learned their youngest daughter, Merritt, had been diagnosed with Shiga-Toxin induced Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, a rare and serious blood toxin infection that severely impacted her health.

After being transported to Children’s Hospital in Denver via ambulance, the family faced weeks of uncertainty. Support poured in from across the community through messages, meals, help caring for their older daughter and financial assistance.

“People I hadn’t heard from in a long time were stepping up,” Miller said. “It was really nice to know they were still here for us.”

Merritt’s illness affected her kidneys, but Miller says she is now healthy, growing and gaining weight.

“She’s happy, healthy, growing and gaining weight,” he said. “Life is good.”

Miller credits his family as a crucial support system as he balances farming, cooking and family life. Kali works at the Cheyenne County Clerk’s Office, while his parents and in-laws regularly assist during competitions and events.

“They’re very supportive, especially my wife,” Miller said. “When I’m out cooking, there’s two kids at home that need taken care of, and she steps up in a huge way.”

Miller’s cooking philosophy centers on simplicity, relying on basic seasoning — salt, pepper and garlic — and focusing on technique. His menu has included brisket, pulled pork, ribs, lamb chops and leg of lamb, with brisket remaining his favorite to prepare.

“If you’re going to get into a food business, you can never shy away from a challenge,” he said. “Or else you’ll never improve your skills.”

Currently, Miller rents commercial kitchen space at The Depot in Potter while working toward building a food trailer. His goal is to create a fully self-contained mobile kitchen, allowing him to serve events throughout the Sidney region.

“Basically my whole goal with it is have it be its own standalone kitchen on wheels,” Miller said. “Life will be grand.”

Miller hopes to have the trailer operational by summer. 

In the meantime, he will be cooking the "Western Nebraska Sandwich" during the Grand Opening of the new general store in Potter, The Depot, starting at 11 a.m. on Monday.