The recent severe weather in Missouri caused chaos and devastation across the region. For one farmer, Jared Blackwelder from Springfield, the consequences were truly heartbreaking.

On a typical Saturday morning, Jared and his wife Misty went about their usual routine of feeding their dairy cows. Little did they know, a storm was brewing in the distance. Ignoring the rumble of thunder and flashes of lightning, they continued with their daily tasks.

Later in the day, as Jared ventured back into the pasture to gather the cows for the evening milking, he was faced with a sight that no farmer should ever have to witness—the lifeless bodies of all 32 cows piled on top of each other.

“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,” shared Stan Coday, president of the Wright County Missouri Farm Bureau.

A local veterinarian confirmed that the cause of death was indeed lightning. It is believed that the cows sought refuge together behind a group of trees during the storm, unaware of the impending disaster.