WOODBURY – The Woodbury FFA has recently been mourning the passing of their beloved goat, Lucky, due to complications from giving birth. 

Lucky, a good friend to the entire NHS school community, passed away the morning of March 18th. She passed due to complications after having a C-Section the day before. Prior to her passing, Lucky delivered five healthy baby kids (4 bucks and 1 doe).

NHS senior Meghan Kostka recalls, “when we first got her [Lucky], she was antisocial, underweight, and didn’t take interest in much. Over time and hard work, she gained weight and happiness and became a mother.” 

Kostka added, “I believe her purpose in life was to be a mother and that event was what really improved her and made her shine.”

Although Lucky hadn’t been around for long, the impact she had on students and teachers in the Ag program was enormous.

“Lucky was an awesome friend and teacher. While she was reserved at first she warmed up to a lot of the students here at Nonnewaug! Her mothering instincts were high, and last year when she kidded for the first time she knew exactly what to do,” said Marisa Bedron, an Agriscience teacher at NHS who worked closely with Lucky during both pregnancies and births. 

After Lucky’s passing, students were disappointed and wondered if more could have been done to prevent her death. 

Junior Aurora Proulx commented, “having those five kids was taking a huge toll on her.”

Along with being an excellent mentor to students and staff, Lucky also had a career in show.

Kostka noted, “the first competition and the ones in the following year she pretty much placed dead last. However, last year she had gained so much muscle weight and improved her overall health that she placed reserve grand in her age class [I think] at least twice in the few shows we went to.”

Bedron also commented on Lucky’s short, yet impressive show career: “She took home multiple blue ribbons and some Reserve and Champion division awards with multiple students in a short time period. … Together, students and Lucky learned proper show ring etiquette and manners as well as showmanship skills.”

Though NHS students are still grieving her loss, Lucky will be remembered fondly and live on in the hearts of all those who got to work with her.