Mayor Svien Asked to OK PETA’s Ode to ‘The Big O’ (Oats, Of Course!)? A Statue Proposed for Downtown Stephenville

For Immediate Release:
May 7, 2025

Contact:
Alex Payne 202-483-7382

In time for Mother’s Day (May 11), PETA today sent a letter to Stephenville Mayor Doug Svien asking him to add a massive oat sculpture to the city’s courthouse square with the message, “The Future of Milk is Oats.” The proposed art installation would pay homage to oat milk’s increasing popularity among today’s consumers and offer a counter view to Stephenville’s “Moo-La the Cow” statue, which celebrates the exploitation of cows in the dairy industry—a top producer of greenhouse gases—where day-old calves are routinely separated from their distraught mothers.

“More and more people are choosing plant-milks because they are kind to mother cows, their calves, human arteries, and the planet,” says PETA President Ingrid Newkirk. “PETA is asking Stephenville’s mayor to update the courthouse square with a statue fit for the 21st century and encourage everyone to go vegan.”

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 thinking of making the switch. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.

PETA’s letter to Svien follows.

May 7, 2025

The Honorable Doug Svien

Mayor of Stephenville

Dear Mayor Svien:

Greetings! I’m writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals—PETA entities have more than 9 million members and supporters globally, including many thousands across Texas—with a suggestion: Would you please add PETA’s “Big O” sculpture near the Moo-La the Cow statue with the message “The future of milk is oats”—similar to the mock-up below—to celebrate the oat’s rise to fame? Please don’t chaff at the idea, but hear us oat.

Since Texas ranks among the nation’s top oat producers, what better way to honor this homegrown hero than with the country’s first oat-shaped statue? Over the past 10 years, oat milk has found its way into coffee shops, grocery aisles, and hearts across the nation. A sculpture celebrating this creamy, cruelty-free beverage would not only invite smiles and selfies but also promote a healthy, more sustainable option to dairy. With less saturated fat, no cholesterol, and a far lighter environmental footprint than dairy, oat milk is by far the greatest thing to happen to the milk aisle. Stephenville’s new statue could be both a fun photo op and a powerful symbol of dietary progress.

Beyond its benefits for humans, oat milk is much kinder to animals. Like all mothers, cows form strong bonds with their calves, and on dairy factory farms, you can hear them frantically crying out for their babies for days after they have been separated. Mother’s Day is coming up, and that would be a great time to honor cow mothers with this tribute to oat milk.

With delicious, healthy vegan products readily available today, it’s aboat time we considered a switch. PETA stands ready to assist in commissioning this oatstanding sculpture and hopes to hear from you soon. Thank you for your consideration.

Very truly yours,

Ingrid Newkirk

President