Discover how a tornado devastated Jeff Gajewski’s dairy farm in seconds, erasing 46 years of hard work. How does one rebuild after such a loss? Read more.
Jeff Gajewski spent his life building his dairy farm, but it was destroyed in a matter of seconds when a tornado ripped through the Marathon County farm on May 21. The National Weather Service confirmed that an EF1 tornado with maximum wind speeds of 90 mph traveled 3.57 miles, and the Gajewski dairy farm near Edgar was in its path.
Before the storm, Gajewski milked 32 cows in the barn, which he rebuilt after purchasing the farm in the late 1970s. He had plans to sell the cows in a couple of months, and his sons had intended to use the buildings for their beef cattle. However, the tornado changed everything, taking a direct hit on Gajewski’s barn and two silos, causing severe emotional and physical destruction.
Two cows were killed when the barn collapsed, and four additional cows had to be put down that night due to the severity of their injuries. The remaining cows were sent to Premier Livestock & Auctions LLC the following day, where they reportedly arrived in good condition. Fifteen young stock will stay on the farm until they can be sold as springing heifers.
Due to the severe weather forecast, Gajewski himself evaded injury by starting chores early. This move likely saved his life. The weather reports had suggested that the brunt of the storm would stay south of Highway 29, leaving his farm ostensibly out of the path of the worst damage. Despite the uncertainty, Gajewski took precautions, ultimately witnessing the tornado’s full force wreaking havoc on his beloved farm.
“It was getting dark out to the west, and then everything outside was flying — it felt like it dropped right on top of us.”
Family, friends, and neighbors quickly descended upon the farm to help save the cows and begin the daunting clean-up process. Gajewski was grateful for their support and recounted working until about 1:30 a.m. that first night. The following days have been long and physically taxing as he continues to pick up the pieces.
As he considers the steps forward, Gajewski intends to fix up the lean-tos for the animal shelter during the summer months, utilizing parts of the barn’s roof that remained intact. Depending on costs, he aims to build a heated room where the milkhouse was to keep water running during the winter and housing for the youngstock approximately the width of the barn for winter. Despite the setbacks, his resilience shines through as he faces the rebuilding process with determination.
Key Takeaways:
The destruction of Jeff Gajewski’s dairy farm by a tornado serves as a stark reminder of nature’s unpredictability. Here are the key takeaways from this tragic event:
- An EF1 tornado with 90 mph winds hit Marathon County, devastating the Gajewski farm near Edgar.
- Jeff had spent 46 years building his farm, only for it to be destroyed in mere seconds.
- The barn and two silos were directly hit, resulting in the death of two cows and the euthanization of four more due to severe injuries.
- Gajewski managed to avoid personal injury thanks to starting his chores early, taking heed of weather warnings.
- Family, friends, and neighbors rallied to assist in rescuing the remaining livestock and beginning the cleanup process.
- Despite the loss, Jeff’s resilience shines as he plans future rebuilding efforts, showcasing the importance of community support in times of crisis.
- Gajewski aims to fix up lean-tos for summer shelter and build heated rooms to manage water during winter, displaying determination to continue.
