Tornadoes Tear Apart Michigan Dairy Farm, Sending Hundreds of Cows Into the Night
Two tornadoes ripped through west Michigan on April 14, devastating a family dairy farm in Fenick, releasing hundreds of cows and leaving thousands without power. The storms struck Otsego and the Carson City area, bringing damaging winds, heavy rain and hail about the size of golf balls across a wide swath of the region.
Janet Hull, co-owner of a west Michigan dairy farm, was sheltering in her basement when the second tornado hit. The destruction it left behind was sweeping, with debris scattered across the property and several structures completely destroyed. A large equipment garage had its doors crushed in and sustained heavy damage, while the family home lost siding, a chimney and windows — though no injuries were reported.
Janet Hull Describes the Terrifying Moment Tornadoes Struck Her Michigan Farm
“It sounded like a train coming through,” Janet Hull told WZZM. “The house shook and it made all sorts of awful noises. When I come upstairs, it was a mess.”
The tornado also tore open barns, allowing hundreds of cows to escape into the night. Emergency crews spent hours trying to round them up. According to Hull, some of the cattle were recovered, but many remained missing, with efforts to gather the rest expected to continue.
“I don’t even know how to begin. There’s barn repairs, roof repairs, animals loose, just so much,” Hull said.
The Hull Family’s Generations-Deep Michigan Dairy Farm Faces a Crisis
Janet and her husband, Bryan Hull, a second-generation dairy farmer, milk 210 cows on 500 acres, per Dairy Farmers of America. They took over the farm in 1976, and their grandsons, Ryan and Drew, help with daily operations. The Hulls also grow corn and hay and raise Angus calves and replacement heifers. When word of the tornado damage spread, the farming community mobilized quickly.
Lane Grieser, a Montcalm County Farm Bureau member and friend of the Hulls, described learning about the tornado’s impact, per Michigan Farm News.
“I messaged him, and [Ryan Hull] said, ‘Yeah, it hit us.’ And then he called me on his way in, telling me what was going on. And I just thought, I got to go. Not everybody knows how to deal with cows or that type of stuff — what they’re looking at, you know?” Grieser said.
Michigan’s Farming Community Rallies to Help the Hull Family
Stephanie Schafer, who runs Jem-Lot Dairy and serves as District 5 director for Michigan Farm Bureau, was among those who stepped up to help the Hull family in the aftermath. The response from neighbors and fellow farmers was immediate, reflecting the bonds within the agricultural community. Schafer also raised an urgent concern beyond structural repairs — the welfare of the animals whose shelters had been destroyed right alongside the barns.
“You just help your neighbor out,” Schafer said. “It doesn’t matter what happens. It’s a farming community, and that’s the most important part — the community. Everybody helps everybody. … [The Hulls] know we have a truck and trailer. They know we can take 30 head [of cows] if that’s what they need.”
Schafer stressed the urgency of animal care: “You’ve got to remember: The cows’ homes are destroyed too. Animal care is a top priority all the time for dairy farmers.”
Janet expressed deep gratitude for the outpouring of support.
“I can’t thank them enough, and I appreciate each and every one of them that have showed up to help today. We couldn’t have done it without them and it’s such a great feeling to have the community pull together like this when something awful happens,” she said. “I don’t wish this on anyone but thank God for all the neighbors, friends and family, they are the best.”
Widespread Tornado Damage Extends Across West Michigan, Threatens Planting Season
The destruction extended well beyond the Hull farm. In Ronald Township, where Fenick is located, reports called the area “heavily damaged.” The Ronald Township Fire Department warned residents on Facebook about downed trees, damaged power lines and loose dairy cows on the roads, adding that many roads going north out of Palo would be blocked. Some parts of the region received between one and three inches of rain overnight.
One Otsego resident reported their greenhouse was destroyed, though their home was otherwise untouched. By the next morning, thousands remained without electricity after storms knocked down trees and power lines. Hundreds of crews from Consumers Energy were sent out to restore power, and the National Weather Service planned to survey impacted areas Wednesday. More thunderstorms were expected Wednesday evening, with a higher risk for severe weather mostly in southern Michigan.
The state was also under a flood watch, threatening planting season. Theresa Sisung, manager of Michigan Farm Bureau’s Commodity and Regulatory Relations Department, said wet conditions would delay plantings for some commodities. “The sugarbeet growers will be the most impacted right now since they have already started planting. I think the potato guys are starting to plant as well,” Sisung said.
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