An Australian Farmer's Heartfelt Tribute to His Late Aunt

Every time Ben Johnson visited his aunt in Australia, she cooked his favorite meals and sent him home with snacks and lollipops. "My aunt had an incredibly generous soul," Jackson said in an interview with the Washington Post. "She was one of those people who never forgot a birthday, a person with a huge heart."

Debra Cowdry, affectionately called "Aunt Deb," passed away from cancer at age 63 earlier this month. Jackson, a sheep farmer, said he never imagined missing her funeral, but was forced to due to Australia's strict COVID-19 restrictions. "I felt completely helpless and hopeless," he said, but he wasn't ready to give up.

Jackson had previously created art with his sheep. He scattered their feed in patterns and words. The sheep had learned to locate the food and eat it for about 5 minutes before wandering, while Jackson documented their actions from above and shared the final works on social media.

When his aunt passed away, he thought to himself, she had a huge heart, so why not honor her with a heart-shaped tribute? Indeed, Jackson scattered the feed in the shape of a heart, and as the sheep gathered to eat, a giant heart was formed and documented by drone.

The video was streamed live during Aunt Deb's funeral, but Jackson never imagined the video would go viral and be broadcasted worldwide. "I think one reason it resonated so much was because we all need some form of virtual hug," he said, adding, "We are missing births, can't say goodbye to loved ones, and can't attend birthdays or graduations. Everyone needs to share some love." When asked what he misses most about his aunt, Jackson replied, "I miss her. I just miss her so much."

Watch the heartwarming video that captured the internet's attention: