The Richardson Adventure Farm in Spring Grove, known for having the “World’s Largest” corn maze, announced that this year’s 28-acre maze design honors agricultural icon John Deere.
The Richardson Farm, located at 909 English Prairie Road in Spring Grove, officially revealed this season’s highly anticipated corn maze design last week.
“The same year that Spring Grove’s Richardson Farm was established in 1836, a man named John Deere moved to Illinois, discovering that the state’s sticky, clay soil slowed farmers, who often had to stop every few feet to scrape the dirt off of their cast-iron plows,” the Richardson Farm said.
“Deere’s invention the next year of a self-scouring steel plow revolutionized agriculture — in the U.S. and around the world,” the farm added.
The public is invited to take in the fall fun at the Richardson Adventure Farm when it opens on Saturday, September 7.
The adventure farm will then be open Thursday through Sunday until October 27.
The making of the maze started in the spring when Idaho-based company MazePlay brought its special planter that uses GPS to precisely drop seeds, creating a specific maze design and leaving gaps for trails.
“We always have fun working out the details of each year’s maze,” George Richardson, who operates the farm with his family, said.
A portrait of John Deere will be featured this year in the southwest corner of the 28-acre rectangular maze with a depiction of the original steel moldboard plow pulled by a horse in the southeast corner.
The maze will also feature the John Deere company’s tagline and some of the company’s more modern offerings, like a construction loader with a pumpkin in the bucket and a quad-track tractor.
At the center of this year’s 10.8 miles of trails is a hammer and anvil, which represents John Deere’s humble start as a blacksmith.
When in bloom, a 12-acre sunflower maze is included with admission.
Visitors are encouraged to check the farm’s website or follow the farm on social media for updates.
In addition to the iconic mazes, the farm offers a slew of other family fun activities like jumping pillows, pedal karts, giant slides, a train ride, a carousel, a 50-foot viewing tower, pig races, an expansive gift shop with a wine sampling bar, food trucks, a new 54-foot-by-90-foot Barrel House beer pavilion, air cannons, live music on weekends, Zorbing and a zipline.
“I’m looking forward to seeing people enjoy the things we’ve worked so hard to create for them,” Ryan Richardson, George’s son, said.
“Between the zip line, the time spent around campfires with family and friends – just the whole experience – everything is an Instagram moment on the farm,” Ryan added.
Regular admission to the adventure farm ranges from $20 for kids ages 3-12 from September 7-September 29 to $30 for those ages 13 and up on October weekends.
Admission is free for children ages 2 or younger.
Visitors should check the farm’s website for full details on hours and pricing as well as campfire and picnic site rental information.