A-Maze-Ing Field Of Dreams Corny Puzzle Leads Visitors Along The Signposts Of Idaho

Brett Herbst is not responsible for crop circles. But he is the creative force behind an intricate labyrinth in Dale Nixon’s cornfield.

A “MAiZE” created by the 26-year-old farmer, designer and entrepreneur in the field between Meridian and Eagle will be open to the public Friday through Halloween.

Herbst, a Brigham Young University graduate, calls it “agri-tourism.”

The 5-acre puzzle with walls of 12-foot-high corn stalks is shaped like the state of Idaho, with a big diamond and the words “Gem State” also cut out.

Herbst said the labyrinth is his way of fulfilling some basic human needs.

“Something about a maze fascinates people,” the Salmon native said. “It challenges human nature. We all want to conquer something.”

Getting through the maze takes about an hour. Visitors must make 33 decisions about which way to go. Sometimes those decisions will be wrong, but the frustration of getting lost can be eased by reading signs about the 44 counties of Idaho that are posted throughout the field.

Herbst also designed some escape routes in case of injury, claustrophobia or boredom. Assistants also will walk through the maze to offer help and information.

The MAiZE is one of three Herbst has created this summer. The others are in Idaho Falls and Lehi, Utah. He has spent the last few weeks driving from one to the other, making sure things go as planned.

It took him three months to design and cut the three mazes. The Meridian MAiZE took three days, using stakes, string and a weed whacker to outline and cut the patterns he designed on a computer.

The 5-acre Meridian maze is the smallest of the three, but it has the tallest corn, which “makes this one the best,” he said.

Herbst created his first maze last year in American Fork, Utah, after reading about a corn maze in Pennsylvania. He since has quit his job on a Utah farm to create mazes full time.

“My mind thinks in mazes,” Herbst said.