Orphaned calves are auctioned to help the family of a rancher killed by lightning

On Wednesday, Colorado’s ranching community came together to help a family whose husband and father were killed along with 34 of their cattle in a lightning strike.

Mike Morgan, 51, was feeding his cattle on Saturday afternoon when lightning struck. His ranch is located in northern Colorado, between Rand and Walden.

Mike leaves behind his wife Niki and a 17-year-old daughter, Dallas.

The dead cows left behind almost 30 calves. These orphaned calves will now be auctioned off for the benefit of the grieving family.

Friends of Mike Morgan are opening their hearts and their wallets, even though they are still in shock over his sudden death.

“Come on, seriously? It’s still all a blur. It’s unbelievable,” said Mike’s friend and north Fort Collins rancher Ralph Tedmon.

“Mike went out the way Mike would have wanted. With a bang,” said Mike’s friend Brian Anderson, a rancher and fire inspector.

“It’s heartbreaking and you have to help,” said Tom Frey of Centennial Livestock Auctions.

The charity auction was organized by the organization where all the calves were sold and over $30,000 was raised for Mike’s family thanks to online donations and a rollover auction.

“We just sell the calf over and over again. If you buy the calf for $1,000, I’ll pay the price back and donate it,” Frey said.

“I brought two checkbooks just in case,” Tedmon said.

Mike’s friend Ralph Tedmon bought two calves, donated one and gave the other to his grandchildren.

“It will be her calf,” Tedmon said.

The boys picked out the calf, named it “Little Moo Moo” and took it home.

“I have a chocolate one!” said Tedmon’s grandson. “Maybe he could come into our garden because there’s grass there. He could just eat that.”

Even cattle ranchers from neighboring states donated.

“The livestock industry in general is a family and in this business we take care of the family,” Frey said.

This family mourns the loss of a larger than life member.

“Mr. Mischievous Mike, because Mike was always someone who liked to test the limits,” Anderson said.

And he holds on to his wife and daughter.

“Niki and Dallas will need strong shoulders,” Tedmon said.

The North Park School District canceled the last day of school on Friday so students and staff could attend Mike’s memorial service.

“He stands up there and smiles and just says, ‘Ha, take this, guys, I have to be the one to cancel the last day of school,'” Anderson said.

Mike’s wife and daughter said, “He was absolutely the best husband and father we could have asked for. We were blessed with the short time we were able to spend with him.”

It’s not too late to make a donation to the Morgan family. Donations can be dropped off at Centennial Livestock Auctions or mailed to:

Mountain Valley Bank, c/o Mike Morgan Memorial

Mailbox drawer 758

Walden, CO 80480

RELATIONSHIPS: Community mourns rancher killed in lightning strike