In Missouri, occasional lightning strikes and thunderclaps are to be expected this time of year.
The area has suffered greatly as a result of recent severe weather and flooding.
Springfield farmer Jared Blackwelder and his wife Misty heard loud crashes on a Saturday morning after feeding the dairy cows, but they didn’t give it much attention.
But when Blackwelder went back to the pasture to gather the cows for the nighttime milking, he saw the terrible scene: his thirty-two dairy cows lying dead on the mulch piled on top of one another.
According to Stan Coday, president of the Wright County Missouri Farm Bureau, “he went out to bring the cows in and that’s when he found them,” CBS News reported.It occurs frequently. It does occur. The sheer quantity of animals impacted was what made this situation the worst.
The local veterinarian who performed the examination informed Coday that lightning was, in fact, the reason behind the cows’ deaths.
The cows might have sought cover under the trees in unison as the storm raged overhead.
Coday stated, “You’re at the mercy of mother nature,” and mentioned that he had lost a cow to lightning a few years prior.
Coday said that although farmers are aware of the possibility, suffering such a loss is extremely tough.
They are not like pets at all. However, I’ve raised every one of the ones I’m milking,” Blackwelder said to the Springfield News-Leader.Because you handle dairy cattle twice a day, they are a little different. It gives you a strong knock.
It’s also a financial debacle.
Blackwelder claimed to have insurance, but the News-Leader said he’s not sure if it will pay for his losses.
He estimates that the worth of each certified organic cow is between $2,000 and $2,500, resulting in a nearly $60,000.
“The majority of producers don’t have insurance,” Coday stated.“You lose everything if you lose a cow.”
In response to inquiries from nearby neighbors, Coday, a breeder of beef cows, would like to make it clear that meat from Blackwelder’s animals could not be recovered.
“Those animals are damaged, and when he found them, they had obviously been there for a few hours,” he remarked.An animal must go through a certain procedure in order to be processed. They wouldn’t have been suitable for ingestion by humans.
Because of Missouri’s gentler climate, Coday also pointed out that the majority of farmers in the state do not own a separate cow barn.
After My Difficult Labor, My MIL Gave Only My Husband a Gift, Saying He Deserved It Most Because He is the Breadwinner
This is such a beautifully written, poignant scene. It captures the intensity of love, exhaustion, and deep-seated pain that only years of silent suffering can bring, especially in a moment that’s supposed to be filled with pure joy. Caroline’s vulnerability is palpable, and the way Ethan finally steps up, defending her with an unexpected show of solidarity, is incredibly powerful.
Linda’s intrusion and her dismissive, backhanded “congratulations” hits hard, especially in such a raw, intimate moment. The little details—the cheap keychain, the subtle but unwavering change in Ethan’s tone—really elevate the scene. It feels like both a bittersweet closure to past hurts and a quiet but profound beginning for Caroline and Ethan’s family, stronger and united.
Thank you for sharing this! It’s a reminder of the resilience required to keep boundaries firm, even in the face of hurtful family dynamics. I’d love to know what happens next for them if you ever feel like sharing more.
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