These two farms are among a growing number who are capitalizing on agricultural tourism where visitors want to participate in hands-on experiences. It's simply amazing how popular corn mazes have become. One of the most successful burst onto the scene near Janesville when Wisconsin celebrated its sesquicentennial several years ago. Having attended scores of workshops, seminars and conferences on how to wring more value out of crops or how to move into alternative enterprises, it's gratifying to see how some suggestions offered at past conferences in Wisconsin are bearing fruit in the form of corn mazes. At the Schopf's Dairy View Country Store in Carlsville in Door County, about 17 acres of corn offer family fun through the end of the month.
Admission is charged.
You can see pictures of both of these corn mazes in next week's Country Life section of our paper. It's amazing to see how the concept of value-added has taken hold at these two farms. However, both families told me they didn't realize how much extra work a corn maze entails. But they agree it's well worth it. Judy Brown covers news for The Country Today in eastern Wisconsin.