It’s September and harvest season is upon us. Along with crunchy leaves underfoot and jugs of fresh-pressed apple cider, the corn is as high as an elephant’s eye and just perfect for getting lost in a corn maze.
In Whatcom County we have two corn mazes to explore, hosted by the Lynden FFA and Bellewood Acres.
FFA Corn Maze
The FFA corn maze is located directly south of Front Street in Lynden on Hannegan Road. You won’t miss this maze thanks to the big, green sign next to the road.
After you’ve parked, head to the trailer to pay the admission. Then get ready to get lost!
And get ready to get muddy!
This is a corn field. If it rains, it gets muddy. The ground is uneven (and probably isn’t the best for strollers). We definitely tracked some mud home on our shoes.
How long will it take to get through the maze? Who knows?
We went through twice – the first time we were done within half an hour and the second time took longer. (Maybe that’s because the kids lost us adults!)
In between runs through the maze, the kids took at break for sustenance – the FFA sells popcorn and soda. Once they were fueled up, they we’re off again!
Each year the maze is different. From the air you can see the pattern cut into the corn. This year is a lion. Past years have included an owl, a windmill, a tractor and a wooden shoe.
The FFA maze is a fundraiser for Lynden-area high school students who are members of the Future Farmers of America club. I talked with Maxine, one of the FFA moms, about the club and learned that the money raised from the corn maze helps send kids to state and national competitions.
I also learned that the FFA kids aren’t just raising pigs and cows for the fair, they learn about parliamentary procedure, marketing, land use, water rights and other issues that people connected to the ag industry need to know. How cool is that?
The FFA corn maze runs weekends through the end of September. Bring your flashlight Friday and Saturday nights to do the maze in the dark!
FFA Corn Maze
Weekends through Sept. 30
Fridays, 6-10 p.m.
Saturdays, 2-10 p.m.
Sundays, 2-6 p.m.
Adults – $6
Kids – $4
Preschoolers – Free
Just south of Lynden on Hannegan Road
Bellewood Acres Corn Maze
The folks at Bellewood Acres celebrate the harvest throughout September and October, with u-pick apples and pumpkins, the “corn cannon” and a corn maze.
 Photo courtesy Bellewood Acres
This “maze” throws in an educational scavenger-hunt twist, where instead of finding your way through the field, you’re searching the maze to find facts about water quality, sustainability and local farming. There are 8 dead ends in the maze. Each one gives you the answer to the following questions:
- How many acres of farm land does Whatcom County have?
- How many gallons of mile do we produce each month?
- How many acres of strawberries does Whatcom County grow?
- Do you like blueberries?
- How does Whatcom County beef production rank in the state of Washington?
- Who is the largest u-pick apple orchard in Whatcom County?
Can your family find answers to all the facts on the scavenger hunt? It’s challenging! The prize is a BelleWood Sugar cookie in the cafe once you’re done.
Photo courtesy Bellewood Acres
The corn maze is part of Bellewood’s Harvest Happens celebration, which also include u-pick apples, farm tours, fresh cider and caramel apples. On the weekends there are apple bin train rides, face painting and the corn cannon. Friday nights in September features Farm Tunes music from 6 to 9 p.m.
Open in September & October
Daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
$4 per person
6140 Guide Meridian, Lynden
About the Author: Hilary Parker
Hilary Parker is a writer and editor living in Bellingham. She and her children love discovering all that Bellingham and Whatcom County have to offer.
