03/05/2026
When you own a property thats been in the family for generations then once in a lifetime events are going to happen to someone. Last night Morgan Busch and I walked outside to check the water level one last time before I went to work. In the hours worth of time since we had come in from feeding sheep the farm had completely flooded. We walked out the door and where met with water rushing up to our knees. I opened the garage and the baby sheep were all standing in water up to there little chest and rising. I picked up the smallest ones and thank God for bottle babies bc some of them followed me. We started loading them in the trailer. Morgan went to rescue Courtney who was already up to her chest in water on her perch. I started making phone calls. It became very apparent that we were in a life or death situation for many of the animals on our farm. Our cows only stand waist high and the water was up to my thighs and rising. The cows were rightfully terrified.
Neighbors, friends and the Reily Township fire department showed up to help. We worked for hours trying to get cattle to higher ground. Unfortunately the depth of water and the current was just too much for some. Morgan and I were in water up to our chests trying desperately to free cows and push them to higher ground.
The light of day shows we had 4 cows perish. 2 cows are un accounted for and one is at a neighboring farm. I stand by my assertion that farming takes a community and we are forever grateful for ours. The rain is still coming so we are keeping our fingers crossed that it stays out of the house. Everything feels surreal right now. I never imagined anything of this magnitude would happen here. But it did. There are fences that need fixed and a barn yard to clean up but in the end I am glad I wasn't in this alone. Morgan was a rock. Unwavering in her determination to save whatever she could. I dont have words to say how scary everything was. If an neighbors see the two cows that are missing, alive or otherwise, please let us know. We would like to get them back to the farm so at least their souls are safe.
Huge thank you to Brittney Mollett Jaime Cantrell , James Spitznagel Reily Fire and Rescue, our neighbors Rebecca and John, Ted Sensel and Kim Todd. And Matt W. Brandenburg for housing the sheep and Courtney.
