OSHKOSH, NE - The Blizzard of 2019. Those four words alone are enough to bring back vivid memories for many people.  Strong winds combined with two feet of snow shut down, schools, businesses highways.

For others though, it caused devastation.

"The death toll was higher than we've ever seen," Connie Peterson said. "My husband and I have been at this a little over 20 years, and too many. We lost too many."

The Petersons are ranchers north of Oshkosh. They got hit by the heart of the ‘bomb cyclone in the middle of calving season. It's a time they won’t soon forget.

"We had a couple of strong snow storms and it just didn't allow us enough time to recuperate before the next hit," Peterson said. "It was repetitive snow that just kept coming."

Although heartbreaking, the loss wasn’t spirit-breaking. The Petersons, like many other Nebraska-ranchers remained Nebraska Strong, and started to regroup. To Connie Peterson, recovering was never in doubt.

"This is our life, and we know that there are hard times," Peterson said. "We know there are hard time in every occupation. We love the animals and we love the land and we don't ever want to have to leave."

Surrounding communities came together to help as well. Echoing the football team’s motto from last Spring: One state. One heartbeat.

"No matter if you're in town, the country, communities work hard to support one another and build each other up," Peterson said. "We just feel really blessed for the community support."

Connie says they’re now doing much better and this year’s calving season is off to a good start.

"We survived last year, we're still here, we're maintaining, growing a little bit," Peterson said. "We feel real positive about this year."