Patin earns Grand Champion at Houston

Judge Bill Whitmire and the Milam County Commissioner’s court recognized Milam County 4-H Member Stiles Patin and his pure white Charolais cross steer, King, who captured the ultimate title of Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Grand Champion Junior Market Steer in Houston on March 17, 2023.  

Milam County 4-H had a total of 52 entries at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo this year with students competeing in the livestock show, judging contests and archery events bringing numerous banners, awards and accalades back to the county. 

Since 1932, the Houston Livestock Show has encouraged and promoted the breeding, raising, and marketing of the livestock industry in the Texas Gulf Coast region. Today, it is the world’s largest and most prestigious livestock exhibition. Thousands of exhibitors come from all parts of the world and across the state of Texas to exhibit their livestock, and only the best of the best leave the arena with the elite title of Houston Champion.   This year’s steer show saw 1900 entries in seventeen different breed categories.

Patin, who was born and raised in Milam County, joined the Thorndale 4-H club as a cloverbud at the age of 6 and began showing cattle in the second grade.   

Now President of the Thorndale 4-H Club, at the age of 17 he walked into NRG Stadium in Houston, in his signature green shirt representing Milam County 4-H and captured the title every kid raising steers dreams of winning.  

“Stiles has had a lot of success over the years, but this title is the one you chase every year,” his mother, Tammy Patin said. “And that moment he was named Champion was more exciting than we’d ever imagined.” 

The win in Houston was the culmination of months of hard work, early mornings, late nights and long drives.  In addition to the Charolais breed that King is, Patin also raises registered Main Anjou, Angus females and cross breed show steers.  The process of raising a show steer is approximately 14-16 months, the road is long from when a steer is born to entering a show ring.  

Patin typically works with anywhere from 8 to 15 steers in a year and attends forty steer shows across the nation.  

“My favorite part is watching them hit the ground as babies and develop into mature fat steers.” Patin said.  “King did just that, he grew into a sound powerful and good looking steer, and luckily that’s what the judge wanted to see.”  

King’s run in the show world had several stops on the road to Houston.  Patin chose to show King in a number of jackpot shows throughout this season.  These shows are generally one day events open to youth of all ages and help owners get a feel for how judges view a steer, and helps both the student and the animal gain experience in the ring together.  

“King has the coolest personality,” says Patin, “and when I saw how well he was doing in the jackpot shows, I knew with his personality, all that power and a great set of legs to go with that power he was the one to take to Houston this year.”  

King did his job and did it well.  The Grand Champion steer sold for $550,000 to J Alan Kent Development Julie and Alan Kent, Sheri and Rob Walker, Randa and Ray Gilliam, and Andrea and Scott Fish.

No time to slow down for the Patin crew.  In addition to his 4-H involvement, steer shows, and Livestock judging,  Stiles also plays football and golf for Thorndale High School.  

Now the process starts all over selecting the steers that will be chosen to hit the show circuit with Stiles for his final year of showing as a member of Milam County 4-H.  

“It will be hard to top this year,”  Patin said.  

The entire show season was a dream run this year, Patin collected Champion Overall Angus Female at the Fort Worth Jr. Heifer Show, Reserve Champion Overall Market Steer at the San Angelo Livestock Show, Reserve Champion Angus Heifer San Antonio Livestock Show, and Reserve Champion Black Cross Market Steer San Antonio Livestock Show.  However, Houston was the ultimate.  

“It is the greatest accomplishment of my entire life, never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d win the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo,” Patin said.  Humble and gracious, Stiles Patin loves what he does and is already excited for the next show season and to see where the road takes him. 

“We are so proud and excited for Stiles and his family with this impressive accomplishment,” said Judge Whitmire.  “4-H is a great organization that provides incredible opportunities for kids across the state of Texas, and we are blessed here in Milam County to have incredible agents and one of the top-rated programs in Texas.”  

Milam County 4-H currently has 196 members in five community clubs including Cameron, Rockdale, Gause, Thorndale and Davilla. 

“We are just shy of our current enrollment goal of 200 members,” said FCH Agent, Micah Holcombe.  “We have continued to have new members join through out the year, so I wouldn’t be surprised if we hit that goal by the end of May.”  

Kids living in or attending school in Milam County in kindergarten through 12th grade can enroll in 4-H online at https://4honline.com/ .  

For more information regarding Milam County 4-H contact the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension office located in the new county Annex Building.