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In a heartbreaking incident, Jared Blackwelder, a farmer from Springfield, Missouri, and his wife Misty discovered a devastating sight in their pasture. All 32 of their beloved dairy cows were found de’ad, piled together under the shelter of the trees. The cause? A lightning strike during a recent storm.
The Blackwelders were enjoying a typical morning, feeding their cows with no inkling of the tragedy that awaited them. Heavy spring rains had caused some flooding, but they believed the worst was over. However, as they left the cows to graze and went about their day, a thunderous rumbling in the distance went unnoticed.
When the couple returned to the pasture a few hours later, they were met with a scene of unimaginable loss. The once-thriving herd now lay lifeless, victims of the merciless power of lightning. It was a devastating blow, not only emotionally but also financially.
The Wright County Missouri Farm Bureau shared images of the tragic incident on their Facebook page, urging their community to pray for the Blackwelders. Stan Cody, the President of the Farm Bureau, acknowledged that while lightning strikes on livestock do occur, this incident was particularly tragic due to the large number of cows affected. Cody, who also raises beef cows, expressed his sympathy, stating, “You’re at the mercy of mother nature.”
A local veterinarian confirmed that lightning was indeed the cause of de’ath. While he had witnessed lightning strikes k’ill up to six cows before, he had never encountered a situation where an entire herd fell victim to such a tragedy. It was surmised that the cows sought refuge from the storm, huddling together under the trees, unaware of the imminent danger.
Jared, devastated by the loss, shared his anguish in an interview with the Springfield News-Leader, saying, “It’s not like they are pets. But the ones I’m milking, I’ve raised every one of them. Dairy cattle are a little different because you mess with them twice a day. It knocks you hard.” The emotional and financial toll was immense, with each dairy cow valued between $2,000 and $2,500. The Blackwelders estimated their total loss at over $60,000, casting doubt on whether their insurance coverage would be sufficient to recover from this devastating event.
The cows’ meat was deemed unsalvageable, making the loss even more profound. Representatives from the local Farm Service Agency (FSA) reached out to the Missouri Farm Bureau. Recognizing the potential devastation such an event could have on a dairy farm, the FSA offered assistance through their Livestock Indemnity Program, designed to support farmers who experience significant losses due to natural disasters like floods, lightning, or blizzards.
Critics outside the farming community were quick to assign blame, suggesting that the Blackwelders hadn’t provided adequate shelter for their cows. However, Cody vehemently defended the couple, explaining that most farmers in Missouri do not have separate buildings for their dairy or beef cows. He emphasized that this tragedy was beyond their control, stating, “This was nothing that he had any control over.”
