Bucky is one lucky Alpine goat after his Happy Valley rescuers won a $2 Million lottery prize

Photo courtesy of Beverly Evens

Bucky, an Alpine goat, launched a passion for rescuing abused and neglected animals that brought a southern California couple, Jim and Beverly Evens, to Happy Valley where they purchased a winning California Lottery scratch off ticket and, on Tuesday, May 11, won a $2 million prize, payable annually. The winnings will be used to feed and care for 36 goats, several horses and an assortment of chickens, Mrs. Evens said Wednesday.

Jim and Beverly Evens of Happy Valley claimed a $2 million California Lottery Scratchers prize Tuesday, May 11, and attributed their good fortune to a pet Alpine goat, “Bucky,” who led them into rescuing animals.

After federal taxes are deducted, the Evenses will receive 25 payouts of nearly $60,000 a year until 2035, said Kelly M. Kell, a spokeswoman for the California Lottery News Service. The first payment will likely be made within the next two months, Kell said.

“We’re thrilled,” Beverly Evens, 56, said Wednesday when contacted via telephone by the Valley Post. “My husband, Jim, used to get so upset because he wondered where the next bale of hay was coming from,” she said.

“We’ve been scrimping to feed all these animals,” Mrs. Evens said. “I’ve been working as a supervisor at the Wal-Mart in Anderson and everything I make goes to our feed bill and veterinary services.”

The Evens moved to Happy Valley at the end of 2007 after the city of Riverside in southern California started to “give us a lot of flak” about her animal rescue business. Jim Evens is a general contractor and figured he could find work just about anywhere, so the couple sold their home and property in Riverside and purchased 10 acres in Happy Valley, west of Anderson.

The couple were enticed into rescuing animals from abuse and slaughter shortly after adopting Bucky as a 2-day-old buckling or young male.

“If I hadn’t gotten Bucky, we never would have rescued all of those goats, horses, chickens and other animals and we never would have moved to Shasta County. We totally love it up here,” said Beverly Evens, who previously worked as a legal secretary.

At last count, the couple had 35 goats, three horses – all rescued as abused animals – and an unknown number of chickens, she said.

“It all started with Bucky. It’s because of him that we are here and we bought this ticket,” she said. The Evenses purchased their lucky Scratcher from the Win-River Mini-Mart, a convenience store off Highway 273 and South Bonnyview Road in south Redding.

Beverly and Jim Evens plan to use a portion of their prize money building new horse fences, fixing stables and improving their goat pens. They also might buy some new flooring after an elderly dog got sick and caused them to tear out all of their wall-to-wall carpeting. Other than that, they might splurge on a few Certificates of Deposit as investment collateral, Mrs. Evens said.

“We are very low-maintenance people. The way we look at it, as long as the animals are happy, so are we,” she added.

When not rescuing animals, the Evens have joined the Shasta Pack Goat club and have offered their animals to various agencies including the U.S. Forest Service to pack out trash from illegal marijuana grows in the national forests, she said.

Some of the pack goats were recently featured in the Shasta Damboree parade and the Cottonwood Mother’s Day Rodeo Parade, she said.

“I have learned a lot from my animals including how to trim goat feet and horses hooves,” she said.

As self-sufficient as their lack of funds has forced them, having the extra lottery income each year will remove some of the worries that added responsibility brings, Mrs. Evens said.

Now, when any of the animals are colicky or in need of a veterinarian, the Evens won’t be as reluctant to call, she added.