Jared Blackwelder, a Springfield, Missouri farmer, was shocked to find his 32 cows dead in a pile in the pasture, a tragic scene he initially couldn’t fathom. The likely culprit? Lightning. Stan Coday, president of the Wright County Missouri Farm Bureau, explained, “It’s a common occurrence. It does happen. The thing that made this the worst was just the sheer number of cows that were affected.”

A veterinarian confirmed that lightning had indeed claimed the cows’ lives. It’s believed the cows huddled under a tree to escape heavy rain and thunder. Blackwelder, emotionally affected by the loss, said, “Dairy cattle are a little different because you mess with them twice a day. It knocks you hard.”

This tragedy also has financial implications. While Blackwelder had insurance, he’s uncertain if it will cover his over $60,000 loss. Coday noted, “Most producers don’t carry insurance. If you lose a cow you’ve lost everything.” Moreover, the cows can’t be used for meat due to the delay in discovery.