Albany County 4-H’er Kyle Despain and his market steer entry won the Catch-A-Calf competition at the National Western Stock Show, Rodeo and Horse Show in Denver in January.

Despain competed against 34 other 4-H’ers and entries from Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, and Wyoming.

Despain attends Laramie High School and is the son of Becky and Johnathan Despain. He is a member of the Critter Creek 4-H Club.

“I can tell you he is one of the nicest, most humble young men,” says Mary Louise Wood, Albany County 4-H educator. “He’s always willing to help others and is a true hard worker. He is a great representative of what the Catch-A-Calf program is all about.”

The market animals are judged on rate of gain, quality of fitting, and carcass quality, according to stock show information. The exhibitor is judged on showmanship, their record book, and a personal interview.

Individually, Despain won the showmanship competition, was second in the live placing class with the steer, and second in sponsor relations. He placed third in the overall production phase and was fifth in record books and in interviews.