A 900-pound steer named Waldo was reported stolen from the San Marcos High School farm on Jan. 9, the latest theft to the school’s Future Farms of America (FFA) chapter.
The steer, property of senior Josh Vail, has been classified as grand theft because the animal is worth more than $1000.
Vail, 18, purchased the steer on Sept. 9 for $850 after securing a $1500 loan. He planned on selling it for profit at this summer’s San Diego County Fair before discovering Waldo missing.
The facility was accessed with a bolt cutter to the locked main entrance.
Vail said he felt "discouraged due to the fact that somebody would do this."
"Obviously, whoever took (the steer) is experienced in this," Vail said. "They have an area to contain it and they knew what they were doing, so easily hideable."
According to a sherriff’s report, thousands of dollars in tools and equipment were stolen from the same FFA chapter in December.
