LINGLE, Wyo. - Dan Ellis and his family have created an 11-acre corn maze to add to the enjoyment of their annual pumpkin patch at Harvest Home.

"It's the first year for our maze," Ellis said. "We've done the pumpkin patch for four years and decided to add the maze after hearing from quite a few people that it would be something they would enjoy."
Ellis worked with a company called MAiZE out of Utah.

"They helped us with our design and suggested we plant the corn regular and crosswise, so people would not find it easy to look through the maze."

Once they had the field and design chosen they planted the corn.

"When the corn was a few feet high, four guys from MAiZE came out and sprayed the corn with color, making it easier to cut once the corn was grown."

Dividing up the maze into three parts, Ellis created a route for children that they can get through in about 10 to 15 minutes. The other two are more difficult and longer for older children and adults.

"There are two phases for the main maze. The first phase we call the lower one and would probably take most people an hour to get through, the second quarter is longer at an hour or an hour and half."
Ellis sees the maze as adding one more event to the fall fest "agri-tainment."

"The population and demographics are changing. There are fewer and fewer people living in the country on farms. People still like to look for things to do outside in the fall when the weather is good, things to do together with family."

Of course, for those who come out for pumpkins, there are plenty to pick from.

"There are three acres of pick-your-own pumpkins, including 20 different varieties of pumpkin and produce."

The pumpkins range from very little ornamental pumpkins all the way up to 20-pounders or greater. Produce includes squash, tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers.

Ellis has been growing pumpkins for 20 years.

"I started with 20 rows and gave the pumpkins to nieces and nephews. Pretty soon I had enough interest in them that I began to sell them. Now we even sell them wholesale to several markets as well has have them here at Harvest Home."

Getting the pumpkins out of the field is all done by hand.

"I have a lot of help from my son, my wife, sisters, nieces and nephews and even a couple of kids from town. They help with the running of Harvest Home and getting the pumpkins."

Harvest Home will be open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 6 p.m. and during the week by appointment. Cost is $9 for children 12 and up; $7 for children 5 to 11 and children under 5 get in free. For more information call (307) 532-1686 or (307) 575-2567.

According to Ellis the popularity of pumpkins are because they are just plain fun.

"After the first freeze, the vines all melt away and the pumpkins seem to just rise up out of the field. Seeing a bunch of children on a school visit is great. They sometimes stand around amazed at all of the pumpkins."