Rogers County Kids Relieved To Get Back Stolen Show Cattle

Thieves in Rogers County stole two cows prized for more than just meat.

Like thousands of Oklahoma kids, James and Kylah Swisher put in a lot of hard work with their 4-H and FFA show animals.

James spent his own money to buy his purebred Simmental named "Lady." Kylah raised her Angus Cross from 3 days old, and named her "Sassy."

"If she doesn't get what she wants, well she'll get sassy," 12-year-old Kylah said.

Imagine their shock when they went to care for the animals east of Foyil and found they were missing. Thieves took the gate off its bolts and took the cattle.

"I wouldn't have done it to nobody else, why would they do it to me?" 16-year-old James said.

"I cried myself to sleep. I could not think. It was horrible," Kylah said.

The kids' mom shed some tears, too. The cattle are worth about $8,000, but are priceless to the two kids.

"I really have no use for anyone that would steal, but stealing from our kids, that's just not acceptable," said Sarah Swisher. "It's a bad thing to steal from a child that loves an animal."

While investigators with the Rogers County Sheriff's Office and a special ranger looked for the thieves, the family called livestock auctions, put out flyers, and even used social media to spread the word.

It may have been enough pressure for the thieves to leave the cattle on some land in the area. Thankfully, within a few days, the animals were discovered by law enforcement.

"I'm happy now to see her every day, and get to look at her and not see her gone," Kylah said.

They're happy to get their show animals back. Now they say they would love to see justice for the thieves that took the cattle and gave them so much worry.

"I hope they go to jail and realize what it's like to lose something," Kylah said.

Anyone with information that could help investigators should call the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers' Association cattle theft hotline at 918-342-0888.