Political bent to this year's corn maze
The Richardson family is taking a special interest in this year's presidential election.
They're showing it through corn.
This year, the Richardson Farm in Spring Grove will highlight the Race to D.C. as the theme of their corn maze, which is complete with an American flag urging people to vote, the capital building, and the Democratic donkey and Republican elephant.
Carol Richardson, her husband, Robert, his brother George and his wife, Wendy, operate the farm and plan the maze each year. Carol Richardson said the big themes people like to see in the maze are sports and news events. For the past three years, the maze has had a sports theme, so this time around the Richardsons decided to focus on the presidential election because it is a topic that is on many people's minds.
"Since it is big in the news, it would be a fun opportunity to put that in the maze," she said.
Carol Richardson said they wanted to represent both Democrats and Republicans.
"We're not taking any sides at all," she said.
Richardson Farm prides itself on offering the world's largest corn maze. This year's maze will be 28 acres featuring 11.1 miles of trails. Wagon rides take visitors to the maze every weekend, beginning on Saturday and continuing through October.
The main maze is designed in sections of smaller trails so families can choose how long they want to walk through and get out easily. The smallest part of the maze features quiz questions to guide walkers through and usually takes a half-hour to complete.
Carol Richardson said the maze becomes an opportunity for families to become closer as they work together to find various markers and answer the questions.
To create the maze, the cornfield is planted in early May both north-south and east-west to form a dense stand. The drawing is scanned into a computer by Shawn Stolworthy, owner of Great Adventure Corn Mazes, and the trails are designed into the mazes. When the corn is 10 inches tall, the trails are tilled guided by a Global Positioning System. Bridges are set in place. In July, most trails are tilled again to clean them up.
Some new features added this year to Richardson Farm include pedal tractors and a pumpkin patch. Other attractions are the wooded picnic area, a 50-foot-long slide and 50-foot-tall observation tower.
General admission is $9.50 for adults, $8.50 for students ages 13 to 18, $7 for children ages 5 to 12 and $7 for seniors. Children under age 5 enter free. Group rates also are available.
The corn maze will be open through Oct. 31. The farm is at 9407 Richardson Road, Spring Grove. For information, visit the Web site at www.richardsonfarm.com or call (815) 675-9729.
Richardson Farm corn maze
When: Saturday through Oct. 31
Hours: 3 to 11 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; 3 p.m. to midnight Fridays; 10 a.m. to midnight Saturdays; noon to 11 p.m. Sundays; closed Mondays and Tuesdays
Cost: $9.50 for adults, $8.50 for ages 13 to 18, $7 for ages 5 to 12 and seniors, and free for kids younger than 5. Group rates also are available.
Where: 9407 Richardson Road, Spring Grove
Details: www.richardsonfarm.com or (815) 675-9729