Our Team

Mimi Hillenbrand has been running the 777 Ranch for the family for 15 years and has worked on the ranch since she was a kid. It has always been her dream to run a ranch in the West. She has always had a passion for the land and all that lives there.

Mimi completed her undergraduate studies at The University of Montana and received a BS in Wildlife Biology and received her Master’s in Agricultural Sciences from Colorado State University.

She has studied Holistic Management and has been practicing it for over 30 years. Mimi has the best outdoor office, works with amazing people, and loves the bison and land, which teach her something new every day.

Moritz grew up on the family cattle ranch in Forsyth, Montana.
He graduated with a BS in Natural Resource and Ranch Management from National American University in Rapid City.

In 2005 he wandered to South Dakota country and started chasing buffalo for fun. Little did he know it would turn into a passion and career as the 777 ranch manager.

His dream job is working with Mimi and the crew, applying Holistic Management practices on day-to-day operations, and accomplishing the long term goals of the ranch.

Moritz has seen the benefits of Holistic Management on the land, the buffalo, wildlife, and people. This drives him to continuously strive for improvement.

He sleeps sound at night knowing he spent his day living the dream. Moritz likes black coffee, white candles, fast horses, and slow grooves.

Justin was born and raised in Batesville, Indiana.

He enrolled in college for law enforcement and upon graduating went to work on the ranch. The ranch was his true calling.

He fondly remembers his phone interview with Moritz. “He asked me if I had any livestock experience.” I said, “Well, I’ve been around pigs my entire life, one time I walked past a dairy cow in a field, and I fell off a horse in a state park. So yeah, I got some livestock experience.”

The reality of buffalo ranching was much different than Justin had in mind. Instead of horses, they used four-wheelers, instead of working the buffalo a majority of the time, they use a hands off approach of allowing bison to be bison.

Justin loves the responsibility of moving the herd, the trust that comes with it, and spending time with his dog, Bo. He looks forward of many years to come working with the 777 Team.

Cody Smith was born and raised in Rapid City, South Dakota. He started working at the 777 when he was a sophomore in high school and would work summers between school years.

In 2012 he graduated and went to college to rodeo, where he ended up injuring himself while riding. After he came back home he decided to start working at the 777 Ranch full time.

Cody feels fortunate to work at a place where he is encouraged to pursue continuing education. He currently attends night classes at BHSU in Spearfish, SD, to further his success at the 777 Ranch.