By Kristen Radford
If there''s one thing Brett Herbst has discovered, it''s that there is a lot more to corn than good eating. And after 10 years of giant corn mazes, Utahns haven''t lost their flavor for getting lost in it.
Every year Utahns turn up in the thousands to wander through labyrinth-sized corn mazes, made famous when Herbst designed his first in 1996. The first maze, located in American Fork, marked the beginning of a 'corny' phenomenon. Ten years later, Herbst owns the world''s largest corn maze consulting company and has designed more than 1,000 mazes in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Europe.
'What''s surprised me more than anything is how this has filled an entertainment gap that we didn''t even know existed,' Herbst said.
A 1995, BYU graduate with a bachelor''s degree in agribusiness who grew up on a farm in Salmon, Idaho, Herbst has always had a passion for agriculture. When he unveiled his first maze 10 years ago, more than 18,000 visitors flocked to the attraction within the first three weeks. Herbst knew he had a hit and founded The MAiZE, the company that claimed the Guinness record in 1999 for the world''s largest corn maze. The MAiZE continues to grow, boasting 165 mazes across the United States this year alone.
However, 2006 commemorates more than 10 years of corn mazes. This year, Herbst''s maze illustrates Utah''s new commemorative quarter, which was announced in May and is due to begin circulation in early 2007.
'We chose to feature the new quarter because it represents a big moment in Utah''s history,' Herbst said. 'This year will be a special one for us and for all who attend our event. It''s hard to believe 10 years have passed since our first corn maze and we plan to celebrate it with our biggest and best event ever.'
But corn isn''t the only treat on the plate at Thanksgiving Point this year. Aside from the maze, Cornbelly''s Pumpkin Fest also includes a haunted maze trail, a jack-o-lantern hayride, a kiddie maze and trick-or-treat trail, a jumping pillow, a pick-your-own-pumpkin-patch, corn cannons and pumpkin blasters.
Cornbelly''s officially opened Friday, Sept. 22, 2006. Leonard Blackham, Utah State commissioner of agriculture, accompanied by a group of school children, performed a ribbon cutting ceremony to commemorate The MAiZE''s decade mark. Guests received slices of a huge birthday cake.
Cornbelly''s is open from Friday Sept. 22 to Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2006. Hours of operation are fromt 4 to 10 p.m. Monday throughThursday and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Attractions are closed Sundays.