Farmers and ranchers work in all types of bad weather while ensuring that livestock and crops are cared for no matter what storms might bring.
Last month, while checking cattle on a ranch in Oshkosh, Nebraska, 27-year-old rodeo athlete Terrel Vineyard was struck by lightning. Vineyard, rope in hand, along with his horse Dose, were discovered on June 21 fatally struck, and he was pronounced dead at the scene by first responders.
“Terrel had many horses along the way but always had a main mount during each phase of his life. Terrel purchased Dose a few years ago as a roping prospect,” his obituary reads. “Terrel and Dose left for greener pastures together — Terrel with his rope in hand.”
Vineyard leaves behind three children and his wife, Stacey, who wrote on Facebook, “We were perfect for one another. You showed me love, you adored me, and made me feel like the most beautiful woman.”
A GoFundMe was started to help with the family’s expenses. To date, $13,375 have been raised of the $20,000 goal.
According to the fundraiser, Vineyard learned to rope at the age of 6. One of his first horses, Cowboy, was an AQHA Horse of the Year three times, qualifying for high school finals twice in team roping and ribbon roping.
After college, Vineyard qualified three times for the World Series of Team Toping in Las Vegas on his horse Shorty.
Friends, family, acquaintances, and other rodeo cowboys have taken to Vineyard’s GoFundMe and social media to share their love for the cowboy.
“He was my calf wrestling partner, my team roping partner, and first best friend. My only best friend for a very long time,” wrote Vineyard’s sister, Tori Scantling. “In the rodeo world especially, I was always referred to as ‘Terrel’s sister’ — which I do have a name… but I couldn’t be more proud to be his sister. “
“Best friends. Tremendous horsemen. True cowboys. The epitome of character. Father-son. Shawn-Terrel Vineyard,” wrote Van Winkle Herefords. “Terrel has been showing up every year at 2 am to help pen bulls before the sale-no matter how bitter cold, and nasty it was, he was always game, and happy to be here.”
“I have never been around a cowboy like you that has put a permanent stamp on everyone’s heart,” wrote Teri Alworth.
While accidents in agriculture are all-too-common, deadly lightning strikes in the United States are unusual. The National Weather Service reported an annual average of 27 deadly strikes between 2009 and 2019, making lightning strikes one of the least likely ways to die.
Vineyard’s death marked the first lightning-related death in Nebraska in 2023 and one of only six deaths in the U.S. this year.
According to the National Weather Service, there was only a 30 percent chance of thunderstorms on June 21, but the chance increased to 90 percent in the evening.
