Huge Corn Maze Drew Worldwide Attention

Huge Corn Maze Drew Worldwide Attention AG WORLD Ag World 19-6-19 Until it was harvested Sept. 20, Jim Witter undoubtedly had the most famous corn field in the world thanks to a giant corn maze that drew attention from every corner of the globe. From Aug. 19 through Sept. 4, the Shippensburg, Pa., farmer's field was home to the "Amazing Maize Maze" that covered 145,000 sq. ft. or about 3 acres. The previous world record a as for a 126,000 sq. ft. dinosaur maze at Annville, Pa., in 1993. Both mazes were conceived by Don Frantz, a Pennsylvania native and theatrical producer of Broadway's Beauty and the Beast. Frantz and British maze designer Adrian Fisher selected Shippensburg to construct the record-setting maze because of the town's annual Corn Festival. Frantz, Fisher and, city officials agreed to time the maze with the city's festival, which began Aug. 26. Witter's field was selected as a stage for the maze because his Funks-G hybrid grows up to 8 ft. tall and has broader leaves than many other hybrids planted in the area. The maze was drawn out by hand first, then transferred to computer so measurements and angles; would be accurate. The l l 8-day hybrid was planted in 30-in. rows at the end of April. In May, workers staked out the field in 25-ft. increments and strung rope between the posts to make the grid. They used a weed trimmer to carve the pathways. The paths were then planted to grass. Once up, the grass was trimmed every two weeks with a weed trimmer. Sunflowers were planted around the giant maze. Other finishing touches included 15-ft. high loudspeakers to play music, a maze captain's tower (for those who got lost in the maze), and sprinkler system. Witter estimates the maze drew some 23,000 visitors at an average $4 per head. Ten percent of the proceeds were donated to Shippensburg's historical society. "It was really something else," Witter says about the maze which was featured on virtually every U.S. network newscast and many more overseas. "There were so many people who went through, all with positive reactions, that there is talk of another one. We don't know yet if it'll be next year or the year after." Meantime, Witter's corn, which is fed to his 250 dairy cows, yielded about 95 bu per acre outside the maze; about 65 bu per acre inside. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, James C. Witter, Witterdale Farms, 744 Orrstown Rd., Shippensburg, Pa. 17257 (ph 717 532-6011).

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