Local goat herder: 'This will put me out of business' if state keeps new pay rule

Antonio Gonzales, who identified himself as a long-time goat herder in Lake County, told the board the state regulation under discussion "is kind of like a joke" and said the measure "will put me out of business," urging the county to press state leaders for a fix.

Gonzales said he has worked goats across multiple Northern California counties for about 20 years and that he cannot afford the payroll burden that speakers at the meeting described. The board subsequently approved a letter to state leaders asking them to reconsider the rule and to make wage rules parallel for goat and sheep herders.