Get lost for good, spooky causes
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BY JONNIE TAT... FINN / Lincoln Journal Star
I was never good at the sheets of mazes teachers handed out in elementary school.
The hodgepodge of dead ends and false leads troubled my young linear thought process. I would think to myself, “If I were really in this maze, I would jump over the walls.” I was a tall kid and this seemed pretty logical.
If completing a maze on paper was any indication to how I would do in a life-size puzzle made of corn, you can guess how my first experience through “maize” went a few years ago.
It was a frustrating two-hour ordeal in a cornfield near Bismarck, N.D. My parents thought the Native design was meaningful: What better way to teach their three children about Lakota culture than to throw them into a giant corn maze?
The widely held belief that Natives have innate directional sense was proven bogus that day. Not only did I get lost in Red Cloud’s profile, but I wore open-toed sandals and forgot to douse myself with bug spray. I eventually wandered out, dirty and itchy.
But I had a great time. I finished the maze without cheating and felt pretty good about not having to rely on my ancestors every time I hit a wall. It was liberating, to say the least.
I completed another corn maze shortly thereafter and found the trick was to go through it as quickly as possible — without getting hurt, of course. The less worried you are about getting lost, the more fun you’ll have figuring out the agricultural jungle. Don’t think; just go.
Looking to test my theory? A few corn mazes and other pre-Halloween treats are planted just outside of Lincoln waiting to tie you in a knot and perhaps dig into your pockets for a good cause.
The Maize at Benson Farms will host the “Kloefkorn in the Corn” poetry reading and storytelling by Nebraska’s poet laureate, William Kloefkorn, from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday in Denton. Proceeds will benefit Mourning Hope, a grief support group for children, teens and families based in Lincoln.
The maze boasts 22 acres of sculptured cornfield and sports a Lincoln Saltdogs logo. Wayne Benson claims his maze is the world’s largest by more than 5 acres and he has been working with the Guinness World Records to verify the fact.
Firth’s Prairie Land Dairy is also raising money. This weekend, getting lost in the 10-acre Corny Cow Corn Maze will help hurricane relief efforts. Fifty percent of the ticket sales will go toward the relief.
For tykes with attention spans shorter than 20 minutes the Storybook Maze is perfect, said Roca Berry Farms owner Jeff Schaefer.
The 5-acre maze features characters such as Little Red Riding Hood and Humpty Dumpty to help children solve their way through the 15-minute labyrinth.
But for those looking for a challenge, Schaefer dares them to enter the haunted woods, haunted house, barn, spook coop and more. Schaefer doesn’t recommend the nighttime activities for children under 10.
So if you’re looking to test your directional sense or just wanting to get a head start on Halloween, there’s a corn maze and more waiting for you.
THE MAZES
The Maize at Benson Farms, Mourning Hope Benefit
When: 7-9 p.m. Friday
Farm’s hours of operation (through Oct. 23): 4-9 p.m. Thursdays; 4-10 p.m. Fridays; noon to 10 p.m. Saturdays; noon to 8 p.m. Sundays.
Where: Denton. From Lincoln, take West Denton Road to Southwest 140th Street, go north ¾ mile. Maze is on east side of the road.
Admission: $8, ages 7 and older; free, ages 6 and under; $1 off admission with canned item for Food Bank of Lincoln.
More information: Call (402) 795-3276 or visit www.bensonfarms.com.
Corny Cow Corn Maze, Hurricane Relief Benefit
When: Friday, Saturday and Oct. 2
Hours of Operation (through Nov. 6): 6-11 p.m. Fridays; noon to 11 p.m. Saturdays; 1-7 p.m. Sundays.
Where: Firth. From Nebraska 43, turn west on Pella Road; go about 2.5 miles. Maze is on north side of road.
Admission: $7.50, ages 12 and older; $4, ages 6-11; free, ages 5 and under.
More information: Call (402) 791-2228 or visit www.mazeplay.com/showmaze.php?maze=99
Nighttime horror at Roca Berry Farm
When: Saturday
Hours of operation (through Oct. 30): 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day; open to 10:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
Where: Roca. Take South 56th Street to Saltillo Road. Go west to 54th Street. Go south about 2.5 miles to Roca Cemetery on Roca Road. Go west and follow signs to Roca Berry Farm.
Admission: $6 on weekends, $5 on weekdays and $10 on Friday and Saturday nights
More information: Call (402) 421-2255 or (402) 421-2933
Reach Jonnie Taté Finn at 473-7395 or tfinn@journalstar.com.
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