With more than 3,500 reported uses, corn might just be the world's most widely used crop. But one use in particular - "agritainment," according to cornfieldmaze.com - may be the most fun anyone will ever have playing with food during the month of October.
Two local corn mazes offer acre upon acre of corny labyrinths for those looking to get lost in a field full of the state's most well known vegetable.
Located in Farmland, Ind., 1 Fun Farm incorporates two separate mazes in what owner Mo Jester calls a "two-phase" design - a non-haunted maze mostly visited during the day and a haunted "Trail of Thrills" maze that opens at dark, perfect for those prepared to be scared, she said.
"[The haunted maze] is startling but not gory," Jester said.
The MAiZE, the "world's largest corn maze company" according to its Web site, helped with the preliminary design and brings a representative to lay it out on the field. The cutting out process usually ends up taking half a day, she said.
This year's 10.2-acre field will be celebrating Indiana's agriculture tradition and 1 Fun Farm's tribute to agriculture products, specifically ethanol fuel and its impact on today's society, according to its Web site.
"Our main goal is to provide people with fun. For the past six years we've enjoyed having people leave with happy memories," Jester said.
Unlike the majority of corn maze operations across the country, Hiatt Farms' "Mazed and Cornfused" in Muncie is completely family owned and operated and doesn't use an outside company for maze construction, owner Linda Hiatt said.
Hiatt's husband Keith manages the family's farm and Linda is in charge of running the maze and its business, she said.
This fall marks the maze's first year in business, which "has been going pretty well," she said.
Hiatt thought about creating a maze for a while this year. After she retired and her daughter had a baby, this summer was the perfect time to start the 4.5-acre project, she said.
"It just seemed like a fun, alternate income for fall," she said.
From start to finish, the maze was a family effort and bonding experience.
Hiatt's daughter-in-law, Ferreh Hiatt designed the maze, which incorporates the Hiatt Farms and its sponsors' - Sam Pierce Chevrolet and Reynolds Farm Equipment - logos.
Hiatt's son Mark then used a riding lawn mower and GPS technology to cut out the design this summer. He mows it periodically to make sure corn stalks don't obstruct any paths in the maze, Linda Hiatt said.
On average, it takes visitors about 30 minutes to find their way out during the day; at night it will take at least that long or longer - provided you take no wrong turns, she said.
"There are a few dead ends that have tripped people up before," Hiatt said.
However, she reassures that workers know the maze pretty well.
"[If you're lost] yell for help," Hiatt said. "Workers are always on hand to keep an eye out and will go through to locate you."
At 1 Fun Farm, trained employees - appropriately called "Corn Cops" - and a series of themed passports and riddle cards appear periodically throughout the maze to make the search more interactive and entertaining, Jester said.
"Though the exit is certainly the desired destination, the real fun is in the journey," she said.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
