It should come as no surprise that life is so brittle given the unpredictable nature of the world we live in.
Anyone who has ever lost a loved one will understand how swiftly circumstances may change, in addition to how harsh fate can be.
However, few will have seen the bizarre turn of events that Jared Blackwelder, a Springfield, Missouri farmer, and his wife Misty watched one Saturday morning when they fed their dairy cows as normal without realizing the uncommon catastrophe that was about to happen to them.
Even though the event in question occurred in 2017, the strange way it played out makes it a compelling read today.
According to reports, Jared and Misty Blackwelder felt secure knowing that the recent flooding in their neighborhood was over when they went out to feed their dairy cows.
Despite the approaching storm clouds and distant rumbling, the Blackwelders chose to leave their little herd of thirty-two to graze in their meadow until nightfall.
But Jared and Misty had no idea that a few hours later they would return to a scene of devastation.
According to reports, lightning struck all 32 of their dairy cows, killing them all and leaving Jared and Misty with nothing but a pile of corpses.
At the time, the Wright County Missouri Farm Bureau asked readers to pray for the Blackwelders while sharing pictures of the dairy cows.
It happens frequently. MFB President Stan Cody told CBS News, “It does happen.” “The sheer volume of cows impacted was what made this the worst situation.”
After examining the Blackwelders’ herd, a nearby veterinarian verified that lightning was the cause of death. According to reports, he had never witnessed more than six cows being killed by lightning in one sitting; nevertheless, considering the situation, it’s possible that Jared and Misty’s animals were huddled together for protection from the storm.
“It’s not like they are pets,” said the devastated Jared. However, I have raised each and every one of the ones I’m milking.
Because you have to mess with dairy animals twice a day, they are a little different. It gives you a strong knock.
Furthermore, the Blackwelders calculated a total loss of over $60,000, with each cow worth at between $2,000 and $2,500.
