Maze attracts visitors

Bloomfield Corn Maze offers variety of fall activities even though corn crop failed

Taking Careful Aim — Jamie Holt, 7, of Gentry, takes aim at downfield targets with an air cannon at the Bloomfield Corn Maze on Sunday. Holt, with his mom and siblings, enjoyed the afternoon, going through the hay maze, riding on a horse-drawn wagon and participating in other games and activities. For more photographs and information on the maze, see Page 8B.
Taking Careful Aim — Jamie Holt, 7, of Gentry, takes aim at downfield targets with an air cannon at the Bloomfield Corn Maze on Sunday. Holt, with his mom and siblings, enjoyed the afternoon, going through the hay maze, riding on a horse-drawn wagon and participating in other games and activities. For more photographs and information on the maze, see Page 8B.

— If finding your way through a hay maze, riding on a horse-drawn hay wagon or cow train, shooting an air-powered corn cannon or enjoying a playground, refreshments and live entertainment on the edge of a cornfield sounds like a great way to spend a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, Bloomfield Corn Maze is the place to go.

The new attraction, in its first season, was busy lastweekend with visitors from around the region.

Faith Harvey, 14, provided live entertainment as she sang a variety of popular Country songs. Other favorites with visitors included rides on a horse-drawn wagon pulled by a team of spotted draft horses, owned and driven by Tod Hawkins of Gentry, and an air-powered corn cannon. Of course, there was a cow train with rides for children, tractor rides, and a play area complete with a corn box and pumpkins.

Refreshments were offered by NWA Riding Club, a local horsemanship club for families.

Because of the hot, dry weather this summer, the corn crop failed, but a smaller hay maze was built using large round bales.

The Bloomfield Corn/ Hay Maze is open weekends through Nov. 6 and is also available on weekdays by appointment. Some special events are being planned closer to Halloween to attract area youth.

The maze is located 4miles west of Gentry, on the north side of Arkansas Highway 12.

The maze is sponsored by Fontanelle Seeds, Decatur Livestock Auction, Farm Credit, Country Side John Deere, Cripps Law Firm, Steleo Cave, Inuendos Sign Co., Mike Coones, Silcox Wholesale, Cornerstone Bank, Powell Feed, and Threet Waste Management.

More information on the maze is available at bloomfieldcornmaze.com or by calling 427-0806.

News, Pages 16 on 10/05/2011