Lottery winnings will go to goats

A California woman will spend her $2 million scratch-off lottery prize on her animal rescue operation.

By Karen Datko May 14, 2010 3:55PM

Many lottery winners let their finances go to the dogs. Beverly Evens of Shasta County, Calif., is spending her lottery prize on the goats -- specifically 35 goats, three horses and an undetermined number of chickens.

Run the numbers on your retirement

Evens, who began rescuing animals nine years ago after adopting a baby Alpine goat, won a $2 million scratch-off lottery prize early this week after buying a $5 ticket at a convenience store. She'll collect $60,000 a year after taxes for the next 25 years.

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(Isn't this story sweet? Actually, 19% of Tonic readers polled said it made them happy, 38% said they were inspired, and 43% said it made them laugh. Tough crowd.)

George Winship, editor of the Anderson Valley Post, offers more details about the winner:

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.

Video: Remodel your home for free? Sort of . . .

Beverly Evens said she won't quit her day job as a supervisor at the Anderson Wal-Mart. She's spent the earnings from that job to care for the goats. Her husband is a general contractor.

She credits her win to Bucky, the first member of her now extensive goat family. "It all started with Bucky. It's because of him that we are here and we bought this ticket," she told Winship. The Evenses moved from Riverside a couple of years ago after local officials reportedly threatened to shut her operation down, and bought 10 acres in Happy Valley.

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