Amazing maize mazes can be found locally and offer seasonal family fun
By Kyle Valentini
August 5, 2012
332
Summary: Check out a local corn maze for some seasonal fun that the whole family will enjoy.
Corn is the nations number one field crop and it is no wonder. In some form or another it is in most processed foods, it can be made into cleaner-burning fuel additive, animals raised for food eat tons of it and nowadays it can even be made into biodegradable cups, dishes and wrap that look just like plastic.
Corn has come a long way since it was first developed in Mexico more than 7000 years ago. Unlike todays corn, the first varieties looked more like grasses with small kernels that resembled rice. Not found in nature, our modern corn was a plant developed over many generations and eventually became a staple in the diet of native South and North American people.
In Ohio corn is second only to soybeans as far as production and is grown on more than three million acres. According to Ohio Farm Bureau more than half of the corn grown in Ohio is for animal feed, more than 22% is exported, 5% becomes fuel and 8% is used to make sweeteners.
Late summer brings an abundance of corn. An average ear has 800 kernels and sixteen rows and when slathered in butter and sprinkled with salt becomes a favorite addition to any meal. Corn, simply put is popular because it is so good. There are even festivals that celebrate it.
Beyond eating corn we can also play in it. Corn mazes have been around a while with some folks in Annville, PA claiming they had the first one in 1993. While the use of mazes and labyrinths for rituals and processions has been around for more than 4000 years, the corn maze is a seasonal favorite that continues to gain popularity with families looking for fall fun.
Imagine being surrounded by the 10-12 foot corn stalks, unable to see over and unsure of which way will lead you out. Mazes are meant to be fun but during Halloween you can catch a bit of a fright in a haunted maze.
A corn maze is basically a field of corn with paths cut into. Some mazes are cut to look like a design or a picture but from the ground you cannot see. A maze in Amherst, OH took the shape of the Indianapolis 500 while one in Napoleon, OH was a tribute to the War of 1812. Some mazes are more challenging than others and will include dead ends and loops meant to confuse guests as they seek the exit.
There are small and large mazes across the country with the largest maze, according to the Guinness Book of World Records being 45 acres in Dixon, CA. A maze near Dayton, OH has a maze that covers 62 acres with more than eight and half miles of walking trails but has yet to be awarded any honors from the well-known record keeping guide.
A corn maze directory is available on the Internet at www.cornmazesamerica.com and lists more than 800 mazes nationwide with several here in the region. In addition to mazes, visitors can usually find other fun fall activities like pumpkin picking and decorating, the corn box, a large box filled with dried feed corn that kids can play it as they would a sand box, petting zoos, delicious food and seasonal flowers and décor available for purchase.
If you plan to visit a local corn maze dress for the weather and wear comfortable shoes as you could be doing a considerable amount of walking. Make a day of it and enjoy the cooler weather and the seasonal entertainment that can only be found this time of year.
