“I can’t ever imagine being happier, it is a dream come true,” said newly crowned Reserve Grand Champion 16-year-old Stiles Patin, of Thorndale.
Patin won the prize at the San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo on Friday, Feb. 25. Patin’s winning steer is a Charolais breed named Queso that he has raised for the last year and a half.
Patin began his quest at a very young age, and it has been a dream of his that has now become a reality.
“I started showing goats and lambs when I was seven years old and started with steers and heifers when I was eight,” said Patin. “My first major show was when I was nine and in third grade. I’ve traveled all around the United States showing my steers and heifers each year.”
Patin acquired his winning steer from the Arthur/Cromwell/ Jackson Cattle Company.
“We picked him up when he was a baby from Oklahoma. I knew he was a special one from the first time we saw him,” said Patin. “He could be a little feisty at times, but I think that is what gave him some of his ring presence and it made me work a little harder with him.”
Just this school year alone, Patin has appeared in Nebraska, Dallas, Louisville, Arizona, Oklahoma, Odessa, Denver, Fort Worth and San Antonio. One thing has been certain, preparation is key.
“There is tons of preparation for all the shows I go to. We feed twice a day before and after school. They get washed and dried daily and for our haired steers, they get their hair worked daily, and we have a built-in cooler in our barn. It’s like a huge freeze to keep them cool during the summer and to help their hair grow for the haired shows that I exhibit in.”
The San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo is one of Texas’ largest stock shows. This year, there were 1,700 steers entered in the show.
“Since my steer was a Charolais, I had to first compete in the Charolais breed and win my heavyweight class. After I won my class, I had to compete in the overall grand drive of the Charolais Breed against 16 different breeds of steers in the San Antonio stock show,” said Patin. “Once I won the Champion Charolais title, I got to go down in the rodeo arena during the rodeo on Friday, Feb. 25, where the two judges selected the two top steers out of all the breed champions. They named the grand champion overall steer and the reserve overall grand champion market steer. Queso and I were named reserve overall steer.”
On Saturday, Feb. 26, Queso sold at the Auction of Champions for $75,000.
“The money will go in my college fund and to purchase more livestock for my junior and senior year of high school,” said Patin. “I am so thankful for the support I have had from my family and friends and that the good Lord has allowed me to pursue my dream. I still can’t believe we finally won a major stock show. I am truly blessed.”
Patin is the son of Tammy Patin, Taylor class of 1994, and Jimmy Patin.
