The first earthwork commission arrived as a result of interest from Nebraska State Senator Bill Harris hoping to bring attention to the state's diversity and industry with an art project that embraced agriculture. Created off the end of the Lincoln Nebraska runway, this still life design was the first to require some additions beyond plantings (corn and milo seeds, lime for highlights) in an attempt to achieve a pristine image on a designated day.

Willie Nelson's Farm Aid concert was scheduled for a September weekend in nearby Husker stadium and communications with organizers suggested that they might utilize the design in promotions and fly-overs. A four inch rain three days before the concert date muted the image greatly and both a Japanese film crew and the concert promoters found a diminished image. Three days later the ground dried and a quick workover resulted in one of my most successful works and a lesson in humility.

"The most disconcerting part of this project was that so many people threw themselves into this effort that I literally could not keep track of them. I dedicate this work to those good people. "
Stan Herd, 1994