Mike Olson of White, SD went to Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon to Farrier school in 1973. After graduation he followed the Quarter Horse show circuit for 5 years. He worked for clients in Eastern SD from Watertown to Yankton to Gettysburg. Mike also worked in western MN.

In 1978, he moved to a farm owned by his Great Uncle and started farming along with trimming and shoeing horses mostly around Brookings. He has worked on everything from miniature horses to the draft horses including donkeys and mules, a Budweiser Clydesdale and a Lipazon stallion.

In the Fall of 2003 the SDSU Horse Dept asked him to start a Farrier program to go along with the Equine Minor at the College. He has been teaching Basics in Trimming in the Fall semester and the Spring semester teaching both Basics in Trimming and Basics in Shoeing. He has had from 6 to 18 students enrolled in the course.

Mike has put on several demonstrations in the past at the SD Horse Fair and South Dakota State Fair. He has also been Farrier at several shows at Sioux Empire Fair and South Dakota State Fair. Mike continues to help people learn the Farrier business and to work with horses.

Mike and wife Kris have 3 grown boys. He also raises Quarter Horses and Belgian draft horses. He shows both breeds and farms with his drafts.