Expressway Rodeo Goes Viral: Lassoing Lester the Lost Cow on I-75 in Holly

It was a full-on Yellowstone moment in mid-Michigan, and for drivers on I-75 in Holly, Michigan it was most likely a once-in-a-lifetime moment. The best part, it was all captured on a video that has now gone viral.

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To understand how we got the "expressway rodeo" event that occurred on Sunday, May 21st, you'll need to get a little backstory. The whole thing centers on a sweet wayward cow by the name of Lester. Lester went missing a few weeks back after he and fellow cattle were being moved to a new farm. Somehow Lester managed to slip away and had been on the lam since with sightings popping up here and there, but evading capture.

Lester's adventure came to an end along I-75 in Holly in true Hollywood fashion. After being spotted by the escape artist. A team of four-wheelers and horses set off with the Michigan State Police down the northbound and southbound lanes of the highway for safety.

In true cowboy fashion, and very "in rides the hero on horseback, professional cow catcher Ricky Littlejohn gave chase and was able to lasso Lester in what can only be described as the perfect rodeo stunt.

The whole event was one of those "you had to be there to believe it moments", but thankfully the entire chase was caught on dashcam by a Michigan State Police trooper and has now gone viral on social media. In fact, the whole story has made national news making both the MSP, Littlejohn, and of course Lester instant stars.

“Oh yeah, it’s been crazy. My phone has been nonstop," Littlejohn said. "All the 'Yellowstone' comments and all sorts of stuff, they put music behind the video and everything. It’s been pretty entertaining.”

As for Lester, he is back on the farm of Devoted Barn, an organization that rescues and rehabilitates animals in Oakland County, resting and doing well.