This is Iowa: Family remembers farmer's legacy as they harvest field with tribute message
Brian Ricklefs works a full-time job at a bank in Pocahontas County. But his heart is out in his family's field.
This harvest was Brian's first without his father, Tim Ricklefs.
Earlier this year, Brian wrote a special tribute to his father in his field — a message saying, "Miss you Dad."
The story ended up airing across the country.
"It went out and reached more people than we ever would have imagined," Brian said.
When the harvest was ready, Brian returned to the message in the bean field one last time. Anticipation hung in the air as Brian made his first pass through the middle of the field, discovering an outcome they didn't think possible.
Through the tough season, the field produced a decent crop, with high yields right through the middle of the message.
"There's a power bigger than us that is part of our everyday life, that's a part of our everyday world, and there's times when he makes his presence known," Jann Ricklefs said.
The message in the field may be gone now, but Tim Ricklef's legacy lives on.
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