An Albany County 4-H’er won the Catch-A-Calf competition last week at the National Western Stock Show in Denver, and nine other 4-H’ers from across Wyoming will receive calves for the 2019-2020 competition
Kara Reynolds of Laramie and her market steer entry topped 40 other 4-H’ers and entries from Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska and Wyoming.
Reynolds attends Laramie High School and is the daughter of Sherry and Dan Reynolds of Laramie. She is a member of the Critter Creek 4-H Club. This is the second consecutive year a 4-H’er from the club has won the competition.
“I would say she is probably the hardest working young woman I know,” said Mary Louise Wood, Albany County 4-H educator. The 4-H program is part of the University of Wyoming Extension. “She worked every day with that calf and took it to the Wyoming and Colorado state fairs and the NILE (Northern International Livestock Expo) in Montana.”
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.
Carolyn and Mark Neely of Golden, Colo., were Reynold’s sponsors. Individually, Reynolds won the showmanship contest, was second in live placing, third in sponsor relations and production phase, sixth in interview and tied for seventh in record book.
The Wagonhound Ranch of Douglas provided the calves for the 2018-2019 competition.
Reynolds caught a calf during a rodeo performance at last year’s show. She brought home a Red Angus steer in May and has fed and raised the animal since then. Her responsibilities included writing monthly letters to her sponsors and completing a record book. Reynolds will sell the steer Friday, Jan. 25, at the Junior Livestock Sale at the show.
Wyoming 4-H’ers who caught calves this year and who will compete this season, with the winner determined in 2020, are: Damien Mason, Cheyenne; Abbie Forbes, Casper; Shane Dawson, Lander; Kehala Huntington, Lyman; Justus Cooper, Blake Edwards, Parkman; Colton Malcolm, Riverton; Paige Dennett, Rock River; Bailey Fitzwater, Wheatland.
The Denver exposition is a livestock, rodeo and horse show that serves agricultural producers and consumers worldwide.
