Amazing discoveries

Dean Poling
The Valdosta Daily Times

HAHIRA, Ga. October 09, 2007 10:14 pm

— Organizers hope local folks find a straight path to a new cornfield maze outside of Hahira.
Corn-fusing Maze features paths, deadends and turns cut into 10 acres of cornfield. It also offers visitors a hayride around South Georgia farmland demonstrating the growth of area crops like peanuts, cotton, and soy beans; an open field for flying kites; a corn cannon with four shots for a dollar, hit the bale and win a free soft drink; for smaller children, there is a mini-maze, a pumpkin patch, face painting, a sandbox filled with corn, etc.; tents and tables for picnicking; snacks and drinks.
For Timmy Browning, the maze is something new but being on Lowndes County farmland has been his life.
He has worked this land, owned by the Parkers, for many years. With both of their families helping them, Ron Parker Jr. is Browning’s partner in the maze. For years, the land was used primarily to grow tobacco. That has changed in the past few years with the planting of other crops.
But a maze was not in the plans until several months ago when a fellow Bethany Baptist Church member suggested the idea. Browning considered the idea and discussed it with Simmie and Charlotte King who, until two years ago, operated the A-maze-in-Corn in Cecil. With the Kings offering support, Browning decided to give a maze a try.
In mid-June, the corn was planted. Reaching about eight inches tall, the maze’s path was spray-painted into the field. Following the paint paths, the maze was cut into the field. For the past few months, those paths have been maintained as the corn grew.
Last week, the maze opened. Its first visitors were reserved groups which included the American Honeybee Queen and the visiting Taiwanese folk-sports troupe. The Taiwanese youngsters toured the farm, Browning says, and they were amazed to learn that peanuts come from the ground.
With the maze opening to the public and additional area groups, Browning is amazed to discover how little many local folks know about South Georgia’s agriculture, how many area youngsters have never been to any of the region’s farms.
With the maze open to the public on Friday evenings and Saturdays through Nov. 10, and open to groups making advanced reservations Mondays through Thursdays, Browning has numerous opportunities to amaze local folks with a maze in the corn.

Corn-fusing maze
* When: The maze is opened to the public, 6-9 p.m. Fridays; 1-9 p.m. Saturdays; through Nov. 10. Open Mondays through Wednesdays to groups making advance reservations.
* Where: From Valdosta, take Highway 41 North off North Valdosta Road; turn left onto Union Road; turn left onto Franks Creek Road, past the overpass look for the maze on the right.
* Tickets: $7, adult; $5, children, 12 and under; $1 off prices for groups of 15 or more.
* More information: Call 794-2598; 300-0185.

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