Michael Biadasz set out to finish a task he had performed many times on his family’s farm in Amherst, Wisconsin, on an apparently typical July morning in 2016.
However, what ought to have been an ordinary workday devolved into an unthinkable catastrophe.
Few others were aware of the secret peril that killed the fervent young farmer and sixteen of his cows.
An unseen threat
Young beef farmer Mike Biadasz set out to do what he had done many times before on the morning of August 15, 2016: get the manure pit ready for transport on his family’s farm close to Amherst, Wisconsin.
Mike, 29, took a picture and posted it on Snapchat with his usual zeal, jokingly referring to the “liquid gold” he was going to create.
He has safely performed the regular task numerous times. However, that morning was unique.
There was an unseen threat in the air as Mike rubbed the manure with farm equipment. Although he was unaware of it, a layer of warm air high in the sky, together with morning fog, stopped the lethal chemicals discharged from the pit from dispersing, trapping them. He was soon overcome by the poisonous accumulation. Mike had already left when other farm workers showed around at 6:30 a.m. with the intention of removing the manure.
Additionally, sixteen cattle that were standing close by perished from the vapors.
Mike Biadasz and Steve Burclaw had only been working on the farm for three years or so, but during that period they had grown close.
Unaware that something was amiss, Burclaw came to assist in the manure hauling that fateful morning. Everything appeared regular as he got closer—just another typical day on the farm.
Burclaw recalled, “There was really no indication that anything was different, strange, or incorrect.” “Foggy mornings are nothing new to us.”
However, when the farm workers stumbled upon Mike, he was lying at the very edge of the pit, his body oddly quiet.
incredibly uncommon meteorological phenomena
The collision was caused by a very uncommon weather occurrence, according to Portage County Coroner Scott Rifleman. Warm upper air temperatures held a deadly concentration of gasses, most likely hydrogen sulfide or methane, under a dome over the manure holding tank while it was prepared for emptying.
A fatal condition in an open area was created by the atmospheric pressure preventing the gases from dispersing, which is extremely uncommon for cases of gas poisoning.
When his family heard the awful news, they were understandably stunned.
The phone rang while Bob Biadasz was sitting in the house drinking coffee. The devastating news that Mike, his son, business partner, and fourth-generation heir to their family legacy, was no longer with them was relayed by a friend on the other end.
Mike would always be remembered by Bob as a man who could brighten any space in addition to being a committed and accomplished farmer with an unwavering work ethic. Warm and gregarious, Mike possessed a unique talent for relating to people of all ages: “he could talk to anyone, young or old.”
His parents and three sisters found it difficult to contemplate their lives without Mike after his untimely death. More than 1,200 mourners attended his visitation, more than the whole population of Amherst, as the shock reverberated across the community. The outpouring of sorrow was evidence of Mike’s character and the influence he had on others.
Mike’s father told the Stevens Point Journal, “I never realized Mike touched so many people.”
Respecting Mike’s memories
His community, family, and friends were heartbroken. Following their loss, however, they took action in response to their sadness. In order to stop similar deaths and inform farmers about the hidden risks of their daily labor, they founded the Mike Biadasz Farm Safety and Education Memorial Fund.
The Mike Biadasz Farm Safety and Education Memorial Fund gives farmers the information and resources they need to keep safe while also attempting to increase public awareness of the risks associated with manure gas exposure.
They advocate for stricter laws pertaining to the ventilation and storage of manure, hold educational events, and provide safety training.
The goal is clear: farmers put in a lot of effort to feed the world, and they should have access to the greatest resources and information available to safeguard both themselves and their employees.
A community that will always remember
Mike’s family and friends paid respect to his life and legacy shortly after his death by lining the road to Biadasz Farms with tractors and other equipment. His black pickup truck was a subtle but potent symbol of love and remembrance, surrounded by a line of red and blue farm vehicles.
One Facebook user said, “This family had to endure this freak accident, as if there isn’t already enough danger in farmers’ lives.” “So depressing.”
Changes in farm safety procedures nationwide are still being influenced by the Biadasz family’s efforts. They are ensuring that no other farmer—or family—must endure the same loss by raising awareness, educating others, and advocating for change.
Visit the Mike Biadasz Farm Safety and Education Memorial Fund’s official website or Facebook page to find out more.
The terrible death of Mike Biadasz serves as a sobering reminder of the unseen risks that farmers encounter on a daily basis, emphasizing the significance of awareness and safety in agricultural operations.
By telling Mike’s story, we can ensure that farmers have the tools they need to protect themselves and their employees and help avert similar tragedies. Sharing Mike’s legacy helps make farming safer for everyone while also paying tribute to his memory.
