Nelson Family and Farm after Tornado destruction

Hi! Our names are Nicole and Jamie Esperson and we are organizing this fund, as a way for our Sister, brother in law and nieces to begin to pick up the pieces from the tragic and unimaginable destruction of their farm, home and belongings within, after a tornado unexpectedly tore through and destroyed almost everything they have ever known.

️On Thursday Feb 8th at 6 pm, a breathtaking and peaceful small town, Edgerton WI, was about to be changed forever by a powerful and massive Tornado.

This happens to be the FIRST EVER RECORDED tornado to touch down in the month of February in the state of WI. It tore through the quiet town, where our sister, brother in law and nieces were in the direct path of this monster along with their home, barns, livestock, goats, donkeys and farmland.

In 2015 our sister and her husband Ryan built their dream home from the ground up, excited for the future, to start a family and forever do what they love so much, FARM. They have 2 beautiful little girls, Mia and Sofia who are 8 and 5. They have cows, goats, donkeys, farm cats and 2 dogs.

Ryan is a 3rd generation farmer on the land “Nelsons Farm,” Gabby started a successful goat milk soap company “Down home soap co” and the girls are growing up loving the farm life, milking the goats, feeding the cows, riding their donkeys and working on the farm since a very young age.

Until today, when In a matter of minutes their home, their livelihood, their farm and their dream was torn into pieces, flattened and destroyed by what we sometimes call “the beauty of Mother Nature.”

this time, Mother Nature was not beautiful, she was angry and nothing was going to remain standing on her path of destruction.

our family took shelter in the basement and are safe but very shaken up.

Ryan nearly lost his life trying to close the basement door before it blew off and threw him down the stairs.

The scene they walked upstairs to is terrifying and heartbreaking. Our sister fell to her knees crying.

The front door had been blown away, the back and front porch in shambles, rain coming into and flooding the house, 3/4 of their roof and 2nd floor gone.

their bedrooms were exposed to the outside elements, where their clothes and belongings got destroyed.

When gabby ran outside, she immediately looked towards the barns, realizing the barns weren’t there anymore, she started screaming for her animals. The goats, donkeys and cows were no where to be found. Their 3 barns were flattened, trees down, debris everywhere, no power, everything was gone and nothing looked like their home.

For hours our sister and their neighbors were searching the fields in the dark for their animals, praying they somehow got out before the tornado struck.

By some miracle, all goats, donkeys and livestock except for 1 cow, survived and found their way back down home, to the farm.

our family has a long road ahead of them, they need to rebuild their house, their barns, their farm and their lives.

Our heart breaks for them, especially our nieces, who are extremely shaken up by this experience.

The story they have lived to tell will send chills through your bones and With God's grace, they have only suffered the traumatic visuals and loss of their farm, home and belongings.

This fundraiser is special to us, this place was our families home, their everything.

Our brother in law grew up here with his mom, dad and sister and is a 3rd generation farmer on this land. Ryan and Gabby are givers, their caring, hard workers and humble. If you've ever met them, then you know. They have worked so hard, everyday, for everything they had and always share with every one of us, all of the time. I want to be able keep their spirits up, minds positive and in prayer, while their family begins to clean up sort through and assess what's left.

It has to be the most lost feeling to have almost nothing and it hurts us to see them hurt.

If you feel it in heart to contribute in any way, we would be forever grateful ♥️

the girls will likely need new clothes, bedding and furniture.

their house will need to be reconstructed.

the farm will need new barns, new fences, new equipment.

and their home will need to become a home again.

If there ever was a time when support and coming together is needed, it’s now.

Please share with our community. Thank you from the bottom of our heart.