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Farmers honor 㽶ƵֱPeanuts㽶Ƶֱ creator with corn mazes across U.S. and in Canada

More than 80 farms in the U.S. and Canada have teamed up with Peanuts Worldwide
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This July 19, 2024 image released by Downey㽶Ƶֱs Farm in Caledon, Ontario shows a corn maze honoring the 75th anniversary of the Peanuts comic strip. (Joanne Strom/Downey㽶Ƶֱs Farm via AP)

Visitors to corn mazes across the country are finding a familiar and joyous figure in the winding labyrinth of tall stalks. Snoopy.

More than 80 farms in the U.S. and Canada have teamed up with Peanuts Worldwide to create 㽶ƵֱPeanuts㽶Ƶֱ-themed mazes to celebrate the beloved strip㽶Ƶֱs 75th birthday this summer and fall.

A massive Snoopy rests on top of his doghouse in a maze at Dull㽶Ƶֱs Tree Farm in Thorntown, Indiana, and he㽶Ƶֱs depicted gleefully atop a pumpkin at Downey㽶Ƶֱs Farm in Caledon, Ontario.

㽶ƵֱAll of these events helps keep my dad㽶Ƶֱs legacy alive,㽶Ƶֱ says Jill Schulz, an actor and daughter of 㽶ƵֱPeanuts㽶Ƶֱ creator Charles M. Schulz.

㽶ƵֱAs someone who can㽶Ƶֱt even keep houseplants alive, the fact that they can do that with a corn maze and get the artwork right and create a fun experience for all ages is pretty incredible,㽶Ƶֱ she adds, laughing.

The mazes 㽶Ƶֱ which span 35 states and provinces, from California to New York, Ontario to Texas 㽶Ƶֱ are expected to attract more than 2 million visitors. Farmers are signing up for the free service because the mazes are part of the customer lure, in addition to things like hay rides, fresh produce and pumpkin carvings.

Each maze is designed for the size of the farm 㽶Ƶֱ from 1.5 acres to 20 acres 㽶Ƶֱ and are mostly corn but also sunflowers. They㽶Ƶֱre custom created by the world㽶Ƶֱs largest corn maze consulting company, The MAiZE Inc.

The Utah-based Brett Herbst, who leads the company and who launched his first corn maze in 1996, says technology has only somewhat changed the way corn mazes are made.

㽶ƵֱThe first year we did it, we just used a weed whacker with a saw blade on it when the corn was fully grown,㽶Ƶֱ he says. 㽶ƵֱNow we do it when it㽶Ƶֱs short and we go in and either mow it or rototill it. We design it all on a computer, but most of it we actually just go draw it out on the ground by hand.㽶Ƶֱ

He and his team have over the years designed mazes with everything from the faces of presidential candidates, Oprah Winfrey, zombies, John Wayne and Chris LeDoux. This year marks the first time they㽶Ƶֱve committed so fully to Charlie Brown and Co.

㽶ƵֱIt㽶Ƶֱs very nostalgic and just seemed like a very natural fit from the get-go to embrace that with 㽶ƵֱPeanuts,㽶Ƶֱ㽶Ƶֱ he says. 㽶ƵֱIt㽶Ƶֱs harvest time. Its kind of become this iconic thing.㽶Ƶֱ

There㽶Ƶֱs an art and a science to maze building, a balance between maintaining the integrity of the image, but also making it a true maze where people can actually get lost in. 㽶ƵֱThat㽶Ƶֱs definitely a challenge there,㽶Ƶֱ says Herbst. 㽶ƵֱYou want to accomplish both as much as possible.㽶Ƶֱ

㽶ƵֱPeanuts㽶Ƶֱ made its debut Oct. 2, 1950. The travails of the 㽶Ƶֱlittle round-headed kid㽶Ƶֱ Charlie Brown and his pals eventually ran in more than 2,600 newspapers, reaching millions of readers in 75 countries.

The strip offers enduring images of kites in trees, Charlie Brown trying to kick a football, tart-tongued Lucy handing out advice for a nickel and Snoopy taking the occasional flight of fancy to the skies. Phrases such as 㽶Ƶֱsecurity blanket㽶Ƶֱ and 㽶Ƶֱgood grief㽶Ƶֱ are a part of the global vernacular. Schulz died in 2000.

There㽶Ƶֱs something timeless about corn mazes and that㽶Ƶֱs what excites Jill Schulz so much. They offer kids a chance to disconnect from their online life and celebrate something their parents did.

㽶ƵֱIt㽶Ƶֱs great to have an opportunity to just bring kids to events that are old school, because it㽶Ƶֱs also important for parents and grandparents to introduce something they loved to do as a child,㽶Ƶֱ she says.

㽶ƵֱI think we all need a little innocence for our children right now with all the technology out there. We need a little 㽶Ƶֱput down your phone and go out and have some good old fashioned, old school family time.㽶Ƶֱ I think that㽶Ƶֱs important.㽶Ƶֱ

Mark Kennedy, The Associated Press

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