History Comes Alive In Rural America

Roger Reaves forged the most astounding farm life of modern times. Row crops to moonshine to marijuana to cocaine, he was the highest paid narco-pilot in history.

An Iowa farmer has turned tragedy into celebration, protecting the crash site where the iconic Buddy Holly died in a cornfield. “The music died on the farm, but it didn’t die forever,” says Jeff Nicholas.

Preceding 400,000 others, including a host of notaries, into the hallowed ground of Arlington National Cemetery, a farm boy was first. William Christman, 19, saved his family’s farm and paid with his life.

Every May to November, Tom Askjem descends to depths of 13’-plus and returns to the surface with treasure — bottles and glassware from farming’s past. After 1,800 pits and hundreds of thousands of relics, the North Dakota farm boy is equal parts archeologist, thrill seeker and mole.