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Maze sustains: Hondo couple faces comeback with 'agri-tainment' operation |
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By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas Edition |
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October 3, 2002 -- It's hurricane season in the Gulf, and all eyes in South Central Texas have been on the sky for the last few weeks, with several systems still churning around. While this area can receive torrential rains and high winds, the biggest danger to the area is the tornadoes spawned by the storms. Ken and Laurie Graff of Hondo know what it's like to witness a tornado, and how to make a comeback. Last September, the Graffs had just developed and opened their South Texas Maze, an "agri-tainment" operation which allows the public to come find their way through a field crop, when a tornado ripped through the Hondo area. The tornado completely demolished the seven-acre maze. Laurie said although she had some days of depression because of the loss of the maze, it was shortly after 9-11, and considering what others had lost at that time, it was nothing. At least, they could replant and recreate the maze. This year, things are looking up and growing taller day by day. After losing the corn field last year, the Graffs looked to a crop that was still standing, after the storm, on another part of their 1,150-acre ranch. The crop is Sterile Sorghum, a hay grazer, and looks just like corn but without the ears. "Last year, we had this planted on another part of the farm and ranch, and after the tornadic winds - the tornado went right through here (the maze)," Laurie explained with a sweep of her hand, "but the strong winds were on the other part of the ranch, too. This (sorghum) was still standing." Last year's storm came while the corn was just tasseling out, Laurie said, and he soon found out that the structure of the plant is more important than the type of crop used. "When you're doing it (creating a maze) for the structure, that's what matters. When we talked with our franchise owner (Brett Herbst), he said 'if that's what is going to grow best in your neck of the woods, that's what you need to grow,'" she laughed. Another reason for using the sorghum is the fact that there are few chemicals needed to keep it bug-free.
The seven-acre maze area is furnished with water by a drip irrigation system. But with the added help of late summer and fall rains in the area, the maze is doing well and expected to grow several more feet in height, during the season. Once arriving at the South Texas Maze, visitors are asked to retrieve one of 10 trivia "passports" to help them find their way through the maze. The trivia passports range from "as simple as 'Tiny Tots' for pre-kinders to something a little more challenging for the older students, like American History, Texas History and scriptural. ... There are 10 questions per passport," she detailed. The interactive passports also include subjects such as sports, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, team-building and "corny." Ideally, the maze-goers tackle the challenge in small groups. Upon entering the maze, each group will stop at Post 1 and answer question number one. According to the answer, directions will be given as to which way to proceed through the maze. A wrong answer takes you back to where you started. Laurie said there are 10 Posts in the seven-acre maze, and if someone gets lost, there is always help just around the corner. "What I do have on the bridges ... and within the maze ... are 'Corn Cops' which are my security. They are there in bright yellow shirts with 'Corn Cop' on the back, to help the 'directionally challenged' people get in and out (of the maze)," she explained. The majority of people complete the maze within an hour, and then enjoy a barrel train (The South Texas Twister), a hayride, and a target game using tennis ball launchers. School field trips come during the week, and Laurie said there is a curriculum that teachers can download off the website that is "age-appropriate for third-graders on up." The students who study the curriculum before attempting the maze are usually able to answer the questions more easily. Looking forward to a successful season, which began Sept. 21 and runs through Dec. 1, Laurie noted the maze was another diversification they have made to their ranch in recent years. "The best part about creating the maze for Ken and I has been knowing that our soul objective in this is educating the public as to where their food comes from, how ag plays a part in their everyday lives, and, also, incorporating an 'agri-tainment' into our farm and ranch that is fun, recreational, age-appropriate for all, and it's enabling us to really make ends meet better," she said. The Graffs also have a meeting place for companies on the ranch, as well as a cow/calf operation which allows them to direct market their beef to the public. Hours for the maze are: Field trips, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., by reservation only; and general public, Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 7 p.m. (On the web: www.cornfieldmaze.com) |
