Bergman FFA Loses Half Of Herd To Lightning Strike

The Bergman FFA lost more than half its herd -- 16 of 30 animals -- to a lightning strike at the Bergman school farm sometime during the nighttime hours between Monday and Tuesday.

Bodies of the dead cattle -- 12 cows, three calves and a bull -- were found Tuesday underneath a large oak tree where they had apparently huddled together during a severe thunderstorm that packed strong lightning.

Bergman High School Principal Bryan Pruitt says care of the herd "was a big hands-on project for animal science."

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)