He was a beloved farming legend. But for Reddit, his work ethic meant something else

A meme that cast Dave Brandt as a stereotypical farmer reached cultural ubiquity on social media sites like Reddit. Brandt's death last week sent ripples through both real and virtual spaces that looked to Brandt as a symbol of honest work in the modern age. (Reddit)

The death of David Brandt, an Ohio agricultural giant who became the face of a popular meme, is sending shockwaves through two communities, both of whom are remembering him fondly for the opposite messages he came to represent.

Brandt died last Saturday after being injured in a car crash, his family confirmed to NPR.