The story behind our 2024 corn maze

For Wes Thomas, designing our corn maze this year fulfilled a challenge he'd set for himself. 

"Each year, there are so many different ideas floating through my head as I'm getting ready to design the maze," says Wes, who's been working at our farm since high school and designed our corn maze for 17 years.

"Sometimes choosing the maze theme is pretty easy. I had several designs I was thinking about this year, so I did what so many of us do.  I asked my wife," he admitted with a grin.

"She's the one who suggested the theme, but what she didn't know is that I've wanted to try a flag and an eagle for a long time.  I hadn't done it because of its multiple challenges, but this year I decided it was time to tackle it."

"Figuring out how to create the stars and combining the stripes and eagle wings wasn't easy, especially with the space I had to work with.  I also needed to figure out what I'd do if certain parts of the maze didn't grow well.  We cut the maze when the corn is only about a foot high, and a lot can happen between that time and when we open. Nature can be pretty uncooperative at times," he said with the knowing laugh of an experienced farmer.

Fortunately for Wes and corn maze lovers, nature cooperated this year.  Our maze opens on September 21 and includes something new this year: a scavenger hunt.

Does Wes have any advice for people finding their way through the corn maze or searching for the scavenger hunt items?  "For the maze, if you're trying to decide which way to turn, go in the opposite direction from the way you think you should go.  For the scavenger hunt, expect the unexpected!" he advised cryptically.

Our corn maze and pumpkin patch will open on Saturday, September 21. Visitors can also enjoy pumpkin hunting, either in our "pick your own" pumpkin patch or from among the many pre-picked pumpkins we grow, and there are other reasons to visit. 

Horse drawn wagon rides will be on most weekends and are free. Live music also happens on most Saturdays and Sundays. Fall displays, games and baby goats will make for good pictures, and our garden center has plants, gourds, and corn stalks to use for decorating.

Food featuring produce grown at our farm will be available from Moulton's Hay Wagon, our food truck, every Thursday through Sunday. Other classic fall favorites will be available at the Cider Bellies Doughnut stand and at our farm market, including apple crisp, freshly baked pies, and whoopie pies in several flavors made in our kitchen and bakery.

Our corn maze will be open seven days a week starting at 8 am from September 21 through October 31. The last admission to the maze is one hour before the farm closes. Admission costs $10 per person with a special $6 rate for each child between 6 years and 3 years of age. Children under 3 years old are free.