In the heart of South Dakota, where the horizon stretches into an endless canvas of prairie and sky, the arrival of winter usually signals a period of quiet hibernation for the region’s agricultural hubs. However, for the Prunty family, a ten-inch blanket of fresh snow was not an obstacle to be cleared, but an opportunity to share a bit of rural magic with the rest of the world. Prunty Farms, a sprawling fifth-generation operation that has weathered over a century of changing seasons, recently became the center of a global viral sensation. They achieved this not through a traditional harvest, but by using a two-ton tractor as a paintbrush and an expansive, snow-covered field as their easel.
The project, which the family aptly titled “Deere Tracks,” began on a crisp morning when the air was still and the snow lay undisturbed across the acreage. Dan Prunty, a veteran farmer whose hands are more accustomed to the grit of soil and the grease of machinery than the delicate strokes of calligraphy, climbed into the cab of his trusty John Deere 6400. To the casual observer, it might have looked like a routine chore, but Dan had a different objective in mind. Guided by a vision of holiday cheer and a surprising amount of artistic finesse, he began to navigate the tractor through the deep powder, carving out massive, flowing cursive letters that eventually spelled out “Merry Christmas” across the frozen landscape.
The sheer scale of the undertaking was immense. Writing in cursive is a challenge for many with a pen and paper; doing so with a massive piece of agricultural machinery requires a level of spatial awareness and precision that few possess. There was no room for a rough draft or an eraser; a single wrong turn would leave a permanent scar in the pristine snow, ruining the symmetry of the message. Dan had to maintain a steady speed and a perfect turning radius to ensure that the “M” flowed seamlessly into the “e,” and that the loops of the “r”s were consistent and legible from the sky.
Capturing this fleeting moment of seasonal art fell to Dan’s son, Adam Prunty. For several years, Adam has acted as the digital storyteller of the family farm, using drone technology to document the day-to-day realities of rural life. He recognized that while his father’s work was impressive from the ground, the true beauty of the message could only be appreciated from an aerial perspective. As Dan maneuvered the tractor through the field, Adam piloted a drone high above, filming the process in high definition. The resulting footage is a mesmerizing blend of power and grace, showing the bright green tractor looking like a small toy as it etches deep, dark lines into the brilliant white crust of the earth.
The process behind “Deere Tracks” was surprisingly organic. Adam later explained that the entire message was executed freehand. There were no GPS coordinates fed into an automated steering system and no markers placed in the snow to guide the path. Before the cameras rolled, Adam had practiced the route himself, walking the curves and loops to visualize the spacing. Once they were ready, Dan took the wheel, relying on his decades of experience behind the controls of the 6400 to bring the vision to life. The result was a stunning display of “tractor snow art,” a medium that few knew existed until the Pruntys shared their work online.
The video quickly transcended the boundaries of South Dakota, racking up millions of views and sparking conversations about the intersection of tradition and modern technology. For many viewers, the footage offered a nostalgic look at the resilience and creativity of the American farmer. In an era where large-scale agriculture is often viewed through the lens of industrial efficiency, “Deere Tracks” reminded people that the heart of a farm is still the family that tends to it. It showcased a father and son collaborating not for profit or production, but for the simple, altruistic goal of spreading a little bit of joy during the holiday season.
Beyond the aesthetics, the project highlights a significant shift in how modern farming is perceived. By incorporating drone footage and social media into their legacy, the Pruntys are effectively bridging the gap between the heritage of the past and the possibilities of the future. Fifth-generation farms like theirs are rare, surviving through a mixture of stubborn perseverance and a willingness to adapt. Adam’s hobby of documenting the farm provides a window into a world that many city-dwellers rarely see, humanizing the industry and showing that even the most traditional of occupations can embrace innovation.
The “Deere Tracks” message was, by its very nature, temporary. A strong wind or the next flurry of snow would inevitably soften the edges of the cursive and eventually erase the greeting entirely. Yet, the impact of the gesture has proven to be far more durable. In the comments sections of the video, people from different cultures and backgrounds found common ground in the beauty of the South Dakota winter. The message resonated because it was a labor of love—a gift from a family who knows the value of hard work and the importance of taking a moment to celebrate the season.
As the tractor finally completed the final “s” in “Christmas” and headed back toward the barn, the drone captured the full scale of the achievement. The words spanned hundreds of feet, a giant, snowy card addressed to the world. It was a powerful testament to the fact that creativity is not confined to galleries or studios. Sometimes, it is found in the middle of a frozen field, powered by diesel and driven by a man who wanted to send a message from his home to yours. Prunty Farms may produce corn and cattle most of the year, but on that quiet December morning, their most important harvest was the smiles of millions of people who saw a little bit of hope etched in the South Dakota snow.
