Mary Lynn Strand
It’s a tale as Texan as cowboy hats and brisket: a high schooler from Vista Ridge High in Cedar Park is accused of poisoning and killing a rival student’s goat. What sounds like the fever dream of a rejected Netflix pilot is, in fact, the latest scandal rocking the Lone Star State’s agriculture world. And just in time for the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, no less. Perfect timing, right?
The accused, a 17-year-old senior, and president of her school’s Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapter, allegedly took her rivalry to criminal levels, injecting the goat with pesticide not once, but multiple times, according to the Austin American Statesman. Why? According to the accused, who we chose not to identify because she is a minor, the goat’s caretaker was a “cheater,” though it remains hilariously unclear how one even cheats in goat-rearing. (Did the goat use performance-enhancing hay?)
The drama began on October 23, when surveillance footage captured the teen in Vista Ridge High’s agriculture barn armed with a syringe. According to police, she injected the goat three times, returned twice more to take photos and videos, and even had the audacity to notify the goat’s owner that it was “shaking or convulsing and not acting right.” Spoiler: this was not a kind gesture.
The goat’s owner, who also happens to be the mother of the rival student, rushed the animal to a veterinarian, but the damage was done. By the next day, the goat died in her daughter’s arms. (Cue the tragic violins.) The cause? Organophosphate intoxication from phosmet, a pesticide commonly used in agriculture — but definitely not for malicious barnyard vengeance.
When investigators looked into the teen’s phone, per an affidavit, they discovered a treasure trove of Google searches straight out of a true-crime parody. Topics included “how to poison pets” and “how to clear search history.” (Pro tip: deleting your browsing history isn’t much help when you’re already caught on camera.) The search history alone might make her the worst FFA president in history — a title no amount of showmanship awards can erase.
Unsurprisingly, she was charged with animal cruelty, a state jail felony punishable by up to two years in the clink. After her arrest on November 22, she posted a $5,000 bond and is now banned from campus until her court date on January 15. Her alleged crimes have also put a spotlight on the ethical standards of FFA, prompting statements about integrity and animal welfare from both her school district and Texas FFA itself.
The timing of this scandal couldn’t be worse for Texas livestock enthusiasts. The Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, the crown jewel of Texas agriculture events, is just around the corner. There, kids and teens showcase months of hard work raising sheep, cattle, and yes, goats, all for a chance at scholarships and prize money. (Last year’s grand champion steer sold for $440,000, a sum that could make anyone green with envy — or apparently, homicidal.)
For most participants, the Stock Show is a celebration of discipline, responsibility, and sportsmanship. But thanks to this bizarre crime, it’s now also a reminder that jealousy, bad decisions, and a syringe full of pesticide don’t mix.
While this sordid tale has captivated headlines, it’s important to remember the real victims: the poor goat and the student who raised it. This was more than just a competition — it was months of care, discipline, and hope for a brighter future (possibly funded by a lucrative Jr. Sale of Champions). Now, it’s all overshadowed by a senseless act of cruelty.
As the accused teen awaits her day in court, one can only hope that the legal system — and the FFA — takes this opportunity to reinforce the values it claims to uphold. Because if there’s one thing Texas doesn’t tolerate, it’s betrayal in the barn.
In the end, this isn’t just a story about a poisoned goat. It’s a cautionary tale about how not to handle competition, the importance of ethical behavior, and the perils of underestimating surveillance cameras. Here’s hoping the Stock Show’s 2024 season is more about prize ribbons than police reports.
