Former dairy farmer "Milkman" sets his sights on another deep run in the WSOP Main Event.

Former dairy farmer Mason Vieth has advanced to Day 5 of the 2026 WSOP Main Event, aiming for a final table. He previously reached Day 6 in 2023, finishing as runner-up in a WPT event.

When Mason Vieth isn't milking cows at his family's dairy farm in Windsor, Texas, he's playing poker at the nearest casino in Sackville, Oklahoma.

"I grew up milking cows and playing cards at WinStar World Casino," the former dairy farmer told PokerNews. "I would stay up all night playing cards, then go milking cows, and then go back. Most of the time, it would be for three days straight. No sleep."

These hard-earned poker skills are now paying off for Vieth – known by his nickname "Milkman" embroidered on his royal blue hat – as he is one of 533 players who made it to Day 5 of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event.

PokerNews located Vieth during the fourth day break, as he was chasing his first gold bracelet and a life-changing prize – a $10,000,000 prize pool.

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Growing up on a dairy farm, in a way, prepared Vieth for his poker life. He points out that the volatility of the dairy and other agricultural industries is familiar to all tournament poker players.

"The dairy business is always tough. You work hard, all day long... It's a tough industry, you're always working... Sometimes there are rewards, but it's like poker, ups and downs."

Today won't be Vieth's first time reaching Day 5 of the WSOP Main Event. In 2023, he made it to Day 6 with 149 players remaining, ultimately finishing 140th for $67,700, which was his career best result. He surpassed that in 2025 with a runner-up finish at the WPT Choctaw Championship, earning $220,000.

Overall, Vieth has a $1 million winnings record at The Hendon Mob. If he makes it to the final table of this $85 million event, he will win the same amount.

While Vieth admitted that "the prize money would be great," he said the best part of making it to the "August Nine" was "getting my family and friends here, to Las Vegas." And appearing on ESPN would be nice too.

"I grew up watching ESPN. So (ESPN broadcasting it again) is another cool thing about this tournament."

Vieth believes the entire Texas Hold'em community will support him.

Don't be nervous, buddy.

According to the WSOP LIVE app, Vieth entered Day 5 with 1,550,000 chips, slightly below the top 100.

If Vieth's opponents find him to be a tough and aggressive player today, they can thank high-spending pro Martin Zamani—Vieth faced him on day four and learned a trick or two from him.

"He plays every hand. So I just try to be like him at my poker table."

Milkman left the dairy industry two years ago, but he hasn't forgotten the cows.

"We also have Red Angus and Wagyu beef," he pointed out. "I started a beef company and now sell directly to consumers."

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