America 250: Sunflower fields of Gilliam

This Saturday, June 20, the small town of Gilliam is celebrating its 27th annual sunflower festival from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

In 1996, Gordon Boogaerts planted a large field of sunflowers. He wasn't trying to attract a crowd; he just wanted to grow food for his fall bird hunts.

"We just planted for ourselves," Boogaerts said. "And the next day, the people started coming."

Suddenly, dozens of people showed up. Painters, photographers, and travelers all stopped to look.

"It's so beautiful, and there are so many, and it's so peaceful," one visitor said. "They're happy flowers and we are happy people."

For many, the field brought back fond memories of simpler times.

"It reminds me of sitting on my grandma's back porch shelling peas, when there was nothing else to think about," another visitor shared. "It's so rare these days."

The sunflower field became so famous that someone wrote a book about it, which is now in libraries across America. Gilliam Road became a must-see spot for photographers.

Locals say that while the planters might change, the feeling of that first summer in 1996 is still alive. The flowers are still here, smiling just like always.