News

Local thank you now a fall tradition

  • Published
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  In what has become a local tradition, Team Offutt members are once again being honored for their service with a larger than life thank you note.

Plowed into a bean field just west of Offutt's runway is a message specifically to those, "Defenders of Freedom."

"We just want to say thanks for all they do," said Chris Shotten, who is the manager of the Bellevue Wal-Mart and spearheads the effort each year.

This is the twelfth straight year Shotten and his team has created a thank you message to the troops at Offutt. They have used two different fields in the past, both of which are located along U.S. Highway 75 and Nebraska Highway 370.

By now the process Shotten and his team use is nearly down to a science. They use a combination of stakes and flour to mark out the letters before plowing them into the field.

"It's getting a little easier each year," Shotten said. "We have some folks who have done it before, so that helps, but we also had some new associates out there."

This year, nearly 20 folks walked an estimated 7.5 miles and used 12,000 feet of stakes and 5,000 pounds of flower marking this year's message over a three day period. Once complete, Shotten then spent an additional nine hours over two days plowing the 195 feet tall letters into the field.

In the end, it covers more than one million square feet, roughly the size of 30 football fields.

"It is incredible what Mr. Shotten and his friends do for Offutt," said Col. Gregory Guillot, 55th Wing commander. "Seeing the message from the air is fantastic, and the fields are famous all across the Air Force. We're thankful to live in a community that continually goes above and beyond to show their support of our Airmen and mission."

Every year Shotten and his team come up with a different message. In the past the team has staked out, "You Make America Proud!" as well as, "Thank you for Freedom!" among others.

"It's just our way to show the admiration we have for all of the military members that defend our freedom on a daily basis as well as to all of our veterans who have served this great nation," Shotten said. "We're so thankful for all they do."