The Beer-Drinking Goat Who Became Mayor in Texas
Of all the strange things that have come out of Texas, and let’s be honest, that’s a long and proud list, few can top the time a literal goat was elected mayor of a West Texas town. His name was Clay Henry III, and yes, he drank beer. Voluntarily. From a bottle. And somehow, that wasn’t even the weirdest part.
Lajitas, Texas: Where Democracy Gets Horned
Nestled along the Rio Grande and just outside Big Bend National Park, the town of Lajitas, Texas, has never been accused of taking itself too seriously. With a population that fluctuates somewhere between “barely a village” and “ghost town with Wi-Fi,” Lajitas has leaned into its Wild West roots, dusty charm, and, apparently, its willingness to let livestock hold political office.
In the early 1980s, residents of Lajitas found themselves with a common small-town problem: a ceremonial mayor with no real duties and no real candidates. The solution? Elect a goat. Naturally.
Clay Henry III: The Goat with Political and Drinking Experience
Clay Henry III wasn’t just any goat. He came from a long line of political animals. His predecessor, Clay Henry II, also had a thing for beer and public attention. But it was Clay Henry III who truly rose to fame thanks to his legendary thirst for cold beverages and his mayoral “duties,” which mostly consisted of headbutting fences, posing for tourists, and chugging brews like a frat boy on spring break.
Locals and visitors alike would gather to watch Clay Henry III drink Shiner Bocks straight from the bottle, tilting it back with his teeth and proudly finishing the job. He was a goat of the people. And by people, we mean people who thought it was hilarious to give livestock alcohol and political titles.
How a Goat Drinking Beer Became a Legitimate Tourist Attraction
Lajitas leaned into the absurdity and made Clay Henry III a full-blown mascot for the town. The goat mayor lived in a pen next to the Lajitas Trading Post, where tourists could stop by, say hi, and offer a cold one. His fame spread far and wide. At one point, Clay Henry III had his own merch, appeared in travel guides, and helped put Lajitas on the map for people who weren’t particularly interested in hiking Big Bend but were absolutely down to party with a political goat.
He also became a favorite of Texas Monthly and other regional outlets, who periodically checked in to make sure he was still alive, still drinking, and still in charge.
The Clay Henry Dynasty: Politics Runs in the Goat Family
Clay Henry III eventually passed on to that big beer garden in the sky (RIP, king), but his legacy lived on. The town installed a new mayor, also a goat, and named him Clay Henry IV. Because if it worked once, why not twice? Or forever?
The goat-mayor tradition has become an unofficial but ongoing institution in Lajitas. Each successor is given the same pen, the same name, and the same occasional beer, continuing the surreal political dynasty that no one asked for but everyone seems to love.
These days, Clay Henry IV (or V, depending on who’s counting) is still out there, quietly ruling his tiny kingdom, headbutting fence posts, and staring into the middle distance like all great leaders do.
The Mountain Goats
Gallery Credit: ASH
The Goat Cannabis Shop Smokers Mural
Gallery Credit: The Goat Cannabis