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Farmers honor 91ƵPeanuts91Ƶ 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 Downey91Ƶs Farm in Caledon, Ontario shows a corn maze honoring the 75th anniversary of the Peanuts comic strip. (Joanne Strom/Downey91Ƶs 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 91ƵPeanuts91Ƶ-themed mazes to celebrate the beloved strip91Ƶs 75th birthday this summer and fall.

A massive Snoopy rests on top of his doghouse in a maze at Dull91Ƶs Tree Farm in Thorntown, Indiana, and he91Ƶs depicted gleefully atop a pumpkin at Downey91Ƶs Farm in Caledon, Ontario.

91ƵAll of these events helps keep my dad91Ƶs legacy alive,91Ƶ says Jill Schulz, an actor and daughter of 91ƵPeanuts91Ƶ creator Charles M. Schulz.

91ƵAs someone who can91Ƶt 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,91Ƶ she adds, laughing.

The mazes 91Ƶ which span 35 states and provinces, from California to New York, Ontario to Texas 91Ƶ 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 91Ƶ from 1.5 acres to 20 acres 91Ƶ and are mostly corn but also sunflowers. They91Ƶre custom created by the world91Ƶs 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.

91ƵThe first year we did it, we just used a weed whacker with a saw blade on it when the corn was fully grown,91Ƶ he says. 91ƵNow we do it when it91Ƶs 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.91Ƶ

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 they91Ƶve committed so fully to Charlie Brown and Co.

91ƵIt91Ƶs very nostalgic and just seemed like a very natural fit from the get-go to embrace that with 91ƵPeanuts,91Ƶ91Ƶ he says. 91ƵIt91Ƶs harvest time. Its kind of become this iconic thing.91Ƶ

There91Ƶs 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. 91ƵThat91Ƶs definitely a challenge there,91Ƶ says Herbst. 91ƵYou want to accomplish both as much as possible.91Ƶ

91ƵPeanuts91Ƶ made its debut Oct. 2, 1950. The travails of the 91Ƶlittle round-headed kid91Ƶ 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 91Ƶsecurity blanket91Ƶ and 91Ƶgood grief91Ƶ are a part of the global vernacular. Schulz died in 2000.

There91Ƶs something timeless about corn mazes and that91Ƶs what excites Jill Schulz so much. They offer kids a chance to disconnect from their online life and celebrate something their parents did.

91ƵIt91Ƶs great to have an opportunity to just bring kids to events that are old school, because it91Ƶs also important for parents and grandparents to introduce something they loved to do as a child,91Ƶ she says.

91ƵI think we all need a little innocence for our children right now with all the technology out there. We need a little 91Ƶput down your phone and go out and have some good old fashioned, old school family time.91Ƶ I think that91Ƶs important.91Ƶ

Mark Kennedy, The Associated Press

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