Avid seek for lacking Texas rodeo goat bringing residents of a small rural county collectively

RAYMONDVILLE, Texas — First there was Gone Woman. Now there’s Gone Goat.

The seek for a rodeo goat that has been lacking for greater than every week has the residents of a rural South Texas county enthralled as they’re utilizing horses, ATVs and even considering using a helicopter to seek out the lacking animal.

Native companies have donated almost 90 prizes and items price greater than $5,000, together with brisket, frescoes and salon service, as a reward for the one that finds the goat.

“This has simply gotten larger than we ever dreamed. Our county is a extremely small county, about 20,000 inhabitants and a principally agriculture, farming and ranching neighborhood. And we’re very a lot one huge household … So, we’re excited that everyone desires to seek out our goat,” stated Alison Savage, president of the Willacy County Livestock Present and Honest.

Residents, together with households, have been scouring cotton and sugar cane fields because the goat escaped from a pen within the county’s rodeo area close to Raymondville on July 15 following a youth rodeo. On Sunday, potential goat tracks have been noticed in a cotton discipline close to Lyford, south of Raymondville.

When the goat first went lacking, it didn’t have a reputation. However after a ballot on the livestock present’s Facebook web page, the goat was named Willy, brief for Willacy County, Savage stated. Whereas the goat has a reputation, Savage stated officers should not certain if Willy is a boy or a lady.

The livestock present has been posting common updates on its Fb web page. The search has additionally been a boon for the livestock present, as residents and companies have donated a whole lot of {dollars} to make enhancements to the nonprofit’s area and different services.

“He’s hiding from us someplace. However we’re getting nearer. We’re going to seek out him” Savage stated.