A maze with a message at Stoughton Farm

The popular corn “Maize” at Stoughton Farms returns for the 10th season with

a brand new design supporting pet adoption! With over eight acres of corn planted and their new mind-boggling design now created, the Stoughton family is bringing the “MAiZE craze” back to New York.

The popular Newark Valley maze, that drew thousands of visitors last fall, will once again get curious maze-goers lost when it opens to the public beginning on Sept. 20. Part of an increasingly popular “agritainment” trend, it will be joined this year by more than 260 affiliated “MAiZE” sites across the United States, Canada, and Europe.

The Stoughton family, in partnership with maze designer Brett Herbst – the world’s leading designer of over 2,000 corn mazes – hope to give even more people a chance to experience the unique source of good farmin’ fun in their newly-designed maze.

This year’s maze supports all the animal shelters do for our feline and canine friends alike. Pathways depict an image of a hound dog, a pup and their two feline friends. While the correct pathways can be walked in under 30 minutes, most directionally-challenged visitors – adults and children alike — will require about one to two hours to travel through more than two miles of twists and turns and over 85 decision points.

“The MAiZE” will give visitors the chance to “get lost” through Nov. 2. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. The last admission is accepted one half hour before closing.

On Friday and Saturday nights from Oct. 3 through Nov. 1, hours will extend until 10 p.m. for a nighttime flashlight maze (last admission 9 p.m.). School field trips are available during regular school hours by reservation.

“The MAiZE” is located at 10898 State Route 38 Newark Valley, N.Y. The cost is $8 for ages 10 and up, $5 for ages four to 9, and free for kids three and under. Maze admission discounts are offered for groups and field trips of 15 or more people. They also offer combination passes, which offer maze goers unlimited fun with not only the maze, but their Cow Train, Hay Ride, and Jumping Pillow too.

This fall they have invited local animal shelters to set up information stands throughout the season to help more animals find forever homes. For more information call (607) 642-3675, e-mail to info@stoughtonfarm.com, or visit www.stoughtonfarm.com.