Given the unpredictability of the world around us, it’s no great surprise that life is so fragile.
Anyone who’s ever lost anyone close to them will know just how quickly things can change, not to mention just how cruel fate can be.
Yet few will have experienced the strange turn of events witnessed by Jared Blackwelder, a farmer from Springfield, Missouri and his wife Misty, who fed their dairy cows as usual one Saturday morning, not knowing the rare disaster that was about to befall them.
The tragedy in question took place in 2017, but the bizarre nature of how it unfolded makes it an equally fascinating read yet today.
As per reports, Jared and Misty Blackwelder went out to feed their dairy cows comfortable in the knowledge that the recent flooding in their area had passed.
There were storm clouds gathering on the horizon and rumbling to be heard in the distance, but the Blackwelders decided to leave their 32-strong humble herd to graze in their pasture until the evening.
Credit / Shutterstock
Little did Jared and Misty know, however, that they would return to a devastating scene just a few hours later.
All 32 of their dairy cows were said to have been struck by lightning, killing them all and leaving only a pile of corpses for Jared and Misty to find.
The Wright County Missouri Farm Bureau posted images of the dairy cows at the time, encouraging readers to pray for the Blackwelders.
“It’s a common occurrence. It does happen,” MFB President Stan Cody told CBS News. “The thing that made this the worst was just the sheer number of cows that were affected.”
Credit / Facebook – Wright County Missouri Farm Bureau
A local veterinarian inspected the Blackwelders’ herd and confirmed that lightning had been the cause of death. Reportedly, he had never seen a lightning strike kill more than six cows at any one time, though given the circumstances, Jared and Misty’s animals may have been huddling together to shelter from the storm.
The heartbroken Jared said: “It’s not like they are pets. But the ones I’m milking, I’ve raised every one of them.
“Dairy cattle are a little different because you mess with them twice a day. It knocks you hard.”
Not only that, but with each cow valued at between $2,000 and $2,500, the Blackwelders estimated a total loss of more than $60,000.
On February 17, 2025, a Delta Connection flight from Minneapolis to Toronto experienced a severe landing incident at Toronto Pearson International Airport. The aircraft, a Bombardier CRJ900LR operated by Endeavor Air, overturned upon landing amid challenging weather conditions, including strong winds and snow. All 80 individuals on board survived, though 18 sustained injuries, with three…
President-elect Donald Trump sounded off against House Speaker Mike Johnson’s spending bill. The government is set to shut down on December 21 without a continuing resolution to fund it, so Johnson and the Republican-controlled House are rushing to pass one. The bill would provide government funding through March 14 and is nearly 1,500 pages long….
On November 10, 2024, Michael Strahan and his Fox NFL Sunday teammates broadcasted from Naval Base San Diego to honor Veterans Day. However, Strahan faced criticism for standing with his arms folded during the national anthem, instead of placing his hand over his heart, which some viewers saw as disrespectful. While many criticized him on…
What happens when the joy of welcoming a newborn is eclipsed by betrayal, cruelty, or heartbreaking abandonment? These four emotional stories reveal how families navigated the deepest wounds caused by those they loved most… stories that will leave you gripping your heart. A newborn’s cry should be the sound of hope, love, and new beginnings….
Hollywood veteran Sean Penn, 64, stirred controversy after stepping onto the red carpet with his 30-year-old girlfriend, Valeria Nicov, at the 21st Marrakech International Film Festival on Saturday, November 30. The event, held in Morocco, honored Penn for his illustrious career in show business. The couple’s public appearance ignited fierce debate on social media about the significant…
When I listen Rick Springfield, I always feel 20 years younger. His music and voice makes me always happy. That’s why I felt pretty down when I read about his recent health issues, which were just discovered. Fell from a 20-foot-high beam At 75 years old, Rick Springfield is a legendary figure in music and entertainment. Best…
On February 17, 2025, a Delta Connection flight from Minneapolis to Toronto experienced a severe landing incident at Toronto Pearson International Airport. The aircraft, a Bombardier CRJ900LR operated by Endeavor Air, overturned upon landing amid challenging weather conditions, including strong winds and snow. All 80 individuals on board survived, though 18 sustained injuries, with three…
President-elect Donald Trump sounded off against House Speaker Mike Johnson’s spending bill. The government is set to shut down on December 21 without a continuing resolution to fund it, so Johnson and the Republican-controlled House are rushing to pass one. The bill would provide government funding through March 14 and is nearly 1,500 pages long….
On November 10, 2024, Michael Strahan and his Fox NFL Sunday teammates broadcasted from Naval Base San Diego to honor Veterans Day. However, Strahan faced criticism for standing with his arms folded during the national anthem, instead of placing his hand over his heart, which some viewers saw as disrespectful. While many criticized him on…
What happens when the joy of welcoming a newborn is eclipsed by betrayal, cruelty, or heartbreaking abandonment? These four emotional stories reveal how families navigated the deepest wounds caused by those they loved most… stories that will leave you gripping your heart. A newborn’s cry should be the sound of hope, love, and new beginnings….
Hollywood veteran Sean Penn, 64, stirred controversy after stepping onto the red carpet with his 30-year-old girlfriend, Valeria Nicov, at the 21st Marrakech International Film Festival on Saturday, November 30. The event, held in Morocco, honored Penn for his illustrious career in show business. The couple’s public appearance ignited fierce debate on social media about the significant…
When I listen Rick Springfield, I always feel 20 years younger. His music and voice makes me always happy. That’s why I felt pretty down when I read about his recent health issues, which were just discovered. Fell from a 20-foot-high beam At 75 years old, Rick Springfield is a legendary figure in music and entertainment. Best…
On February 17, 2025, a Delta Connection flight from Minneapolis to Toronto experienced a severe landing incident at Toronto Pearson International Airport. The aircraft, a Bombardier CRJ900LR operated by Endeavor Air, overturned upon landing amid challenging weather conditions, including strong winds and snow. All 80 individuals on board survived, though 18 sustained injuries, with three…
President-elect Donald Trump sounded off against House Speaker Mike Johnson’s spending bill. The government is set to shut down on December 21 without a continuing resolution to fund it, so Johnson and the Republican-controlled House are rushing to pass one. The bill would provide government funding through March 14 and is nearly 1,500 pages long….
On November 10, 2024, Michael Strahan and his Fox NFL Sunday teammates broadcasted from Naval Base San Diego to honor Veterans Day. However, Strahan faced criticism for standing with his arms folded during the national anthem, instead of placing his hand over his heart, which some viewers saw as disrespectful. While many criticized him on…
What happens when the joy of welcoming a newborn is eclipsed by betrayal, cruelty, or heartbreaking abandonment? These four emotional stories reveal how families navigated the deepest wounds caused by those they loved most… stories that will leave you gripping your heart. A newborn’s cry should be the sound of hope, love, and new beginnings….
Hollywood veteran Sean Penn, 64, stirred controversy after stepping onto the red carpet with his 30-year-old girlfriend, Valeria Nicov, at the 21st Marrakech International Film Festival on Saturday, November 30. The event, held in Morocco, honored Penn for his illustrious career in show business. The couple’s public appearance ignited fierce debate on social media about the significant…
When I listen Rick Springfield, I always feel 20 years younger. His music and voice makes me always happy. That’s why I felt pretty down when I read about his recent health issues, which were just discovered. Fell from a 20-foot-high beam At 75 years old, Rick Springfield is a legendary figure in music and entertainment. Best…