After a farmer died, 75 neighbors from more than 10 communities came together to harvest his 1,400 acres of crops to help the family.
We know how important it is to belong to a community where people truly care about each other. When hard times come, they come together like a family and remind us we are not alone. That’s exactly what happened when a farming community lost one of their own.
Randy Fyllesvold was a farmer near Antler, North Dakota. Everyone in the area knew him. His neighbor Wyatt Thompson said, “To know Randy was to love Randy, and the reach he had was kind of endless.”
In September, Randy died in a crash near Maxbass. He was only 43 years old. He left behind his wife Kharra and their two sons.
Randy’s death came before the harvest was done. More than 1,000 acres of corn still stood in the fields. The family didn’t know what to do. It felt like too much to handle.
But Randy’s neighbors had a plan. Andy Gates went to Randy’s father-in-law Larry and told him, “Don’t worry about the corn, we’ll just get it off.” Gates and Thompson started making phone calls. They asked other farmers to help.
What happened next was amazing. Seventy-five people showed up to bring in Randy’s crops. They came from more than 10 different communities.
Some even drove up from Plaza, where Randy used to live. They brought 12 combines with them. Together they harvested about 1,400 acres of soybeans, canola, and corn.
Thompson and Gates divided everyone into three groups. Each group took a different field. They worked together to get the job done.
Kharra watched as these kind people worked in her husband’s fields. She called what they did “nothing short of breathtaking.” She wrote a message to thank everyone who helped.
She said, “After tragically losing him, we were left with more than 1,000 acres of corn still standing. It felt overwhelming—until the communities he had touched so deeply rallied around us. What happened next was nothing short of breathtaking.”
She went on to say, “Seeing all of you out in those fields, pouring your heart into that harvest, is something I will never forget. As I looked at each face, memories of Randy and the moments he shared with so many of you came rushing back. It was a day filled with both joy and sorrow—joy in witnessing such incredible love, and sorrow in knowing it marked the final harvest of his life’s work.”
Kharra said watching Randy’s final harvest brought both happiness and sadness. She felt happy because of all the love people showed. She felt sad because it was the end of her husband’s life work. But most of all, she felt blessed.
“There are no words for what it feels like to watch the last of a farmer’s hard work being combined. To see his years of dedication gathered into one final semi load. But through those two days, my boys and I felt one thing more than anything else: blessed. Truly, deeply blessed,” she said.
She thanked everyone who came to help. “We love every single one of you who showed up, who worked, who supported us, who grieved with us. We know your hearts hurt too. And I hope you know how proud Randy would be of each and every one of you—for your kindness, for your strength, and for the love you showed our family. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. God bless you all.”
Please pray for Kharra and her two boys as they learn to live without Randy. Pray that God comforts their hearts and gives them peace.
WATCH: 75 Neighbors Come Together to Harvest a Farmer’s Fields After His Death
