As the first successfully planted earthwork the Sunflower Field remained in the ground for three years as a direct result of media interest. Charles Kuralt and his crew arrived in the Spring of 86, one week before plans to erase the image because of a lack of funding. Created subtractively the previous fall, the renowned photo journalist's interest in filming the work through the growing stages, provided the impetus to proceed. Replanted in 1986 and 1987 the seventeen acre work was Herd's most colorful with the successful planting of ten thousand brilliant domestic sunflowers to compliment the clover, soybeans and plowed earth.

Photographer Daniel Dancer brought new levels of commitment to capturing the transient stages of this work-sometimes camping out to capture a sunrise or hanging precariously from an airplane window in winter to record a snow covered image.

In memory of Junior and Elizabeth Neis.