Deadly Attack on Animals Prompts PETA’s Offer of $5,000 for Local High School to Switch to Plants-Only Ag Program
For Immediate Release:
September 11, 2025
Contact:
Sara Groves 202-483-7382
Following reports that half a dozen goats and sheep were killed after dogs broke into Amarillo ISD’s Future Farmers of America (FFA) barn, TeachKind, PETA’s humane education division, sent a letter today to Caprock High School Principal Tammie Villarreal, urging her to ensure that no other animals suffer and die as a result of the school’s agriculture program—whether on school grounds or in slaughterhouses, where many of them typically end up. TeachKind is calling on the school to pivot to a vegan agriculture program that teaches students to grow nourishing fruits and vegetables and to send surviving animals to reputable sanctuaries—and PETA will donate $5,000 to help get the plant-powered program off the ground.
“The violent deaths of these goats and sheep are not unlike the terrifying end they would’ve faced in a slaughterhouse at the conclusion of the FFA program, sold to become food after students spent months bonding with them,” says PETA Vice President of Youth Programs Marta Holmberg. “TeachKind is urging educators to ensure that no more lives are lost on their watch by embracing a vegan program that helps students cultivate crops and compassion.”
PETA points out that goats and sheep are highly social herd animals who are happiest in the company of others and can become depressed if they’re separated or isolated from their companions. Goats, sheep, and other animals used for FFA projects are typically sold at auction once projects are completed and hauled off for slaughter or to be used as “breeders” until their exhausted bodies give out and they, too, are killed.
PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to eat or abuse in any other way”—points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness and free Vegan Starter Kits for anyone looking to make the switch. For more information, please visit TeachKind.org or follow TeachKind on Facebook or Instagram.
TeachKind’s letter to Villarreal follows.
September 11, 2025
Tammie Villarreal
Principal
Caprock High School
Via e-mail
Dear Principal Villarreal,
I’m writing from TeachKind, PETA’s humane education division, which works with thousands of schools across the U.S. to integrate compassion for animals into the learning experience. We were deeply saddened by the news of the recent events at Amarillo Independent School District’s Agricultural Farm that resulted in the deaths of six animals and left others severely injured. Please accept our heartfelt condolences as your community grieves this devastating loss.
Although the lives of these individuals can never be replaced, Caprock High School now has a unique opportunity to honor their memory and safeguard future students and animals alike by developing an animal-free agriculture program. To support this effort, TeachKind is ready to donate $5,000 to Caprock High School to facilitate the transition from an animal-based agriculture program to a forward-thinking, fully plant-based one.
Many young people are drawn to animal agriculture programs like FFA because they genuinely care about animals. Yet, it’s important to note that the suffering these goats and sheep experienced was akin to what they would have endured at the end of the program. When FFA projects end, most animals are sold at auction, usually for slaughter or used as “breeders,” only to be slaughtered once they are no longer considered profitable. Often, participants don’t fully understand the devastating fate awaiting the animals after being sold.
As students express their feelings about the deaths at the AISD Agriculture Farm, we encourage you to have an honest dialogue with them about what animals are subjected to at a slaughterhouse. Presenting teens with broad and accurate details promotes critical thinking skills; giving them tools to enact change based on their findings empowers them to become lifelong learners. As students become leaders for positive progress, constructive social interactions with their peers and the world at large also benefit.
Shifting to animal-free programming would give AISD students the chance to:
• Develop in-demand 21st-century career skills in sustainable plant agriculture.
• Explore science-based solutions to climate change, food insecurity, and environmental justice.
• Practice empathy and leadership, preparing them to contribute meaningfully to society.
As the United Nations and other experts have made clear, moving away from animal agriculture is critical for protecting the planet’s future. Some studies even show that raising animals for food produces more greenhouse gas emissions than all the world’s transportation systems combined.
Farming communities across the US are rethinking traditional agriculture, and forward-looking schools like yours can lead the way by teaching students to cultivate healthy fruits, vegetables, and crops—skills that will only grow in demand as our world changes.
We respectfully urge the Amarillo Independent School District to end the use of animals in its agriculture program and embrace this opportunity for innovation, compassion, and leadership. Our team would be honored to discuss this proposal with you, answer questions, and provide guidance and resources to ensure a smooth and successful transition.
On behalf of PETA and our many members and supporters in Texas, thank you for your time and thoughtful reflection on this crucial matter. We look forward to your response and the possibility of working together to create a safer, kinder, and more sustainable future for your students.
Sincerely,
Julie Everett
Writer and Engagement Coordinator
TeachKind | PETA’s Humane Education Division
Cc: Nichole Bennett, Associate Principal
Dr. Deidre Parish, Superintendent
David Bishop, Assistant Superintendent, High Schools
