Stoughton Farm pays tribute to April, Tajiri with giraffe-themed corn maze

Animal Adventure Park and Stoughton Farm are proud and excited to unveil the farm’s 2017 corn maze, featuring an awe-inspiring design inspired by April the giraffe and her calf, Tajiri. 

Tim and Deb Stoughton, owners of Stoughton Farm in Newark Valley, have been working with world-renowned maze designer Brett Herbst for years to create an intricate, exciting corn maze. In that time, the Stoughton Farm maze has become a staple of fall in the Southern Tier. 

After April the giraffe captivated audiences around the world this spring with the highly anticipated birth of her baby, Tajiri, Tim Stoughton said giraffes were the clear choices for this year’s theme. 

“We’re so proud to feature a design with Animal Adventure Park resident mother giraffe April and her calf Tajiri. Their likeness in our cornfield was made from a favorite picture from the keepers and staff at Animal Adventure Park,” Stoughton said. “The live stream giraffe cam enabled the world’s internet viewers to witness the amazing birth of Tajiri, gaining fans both locally and nationally while we all watched and waited together.”

Animal Adventure Park owner Jordan Patch said he’s honored by the nod to the giraffes and his park.

“I was just amazed when I first saw the photo of the corn maze. The way this design came to life based on a photo of our April and Tajiri is incredible,” Patch said. “Animal Adventure Park and the Stoughton Farm corn maze are both beloved destinations for families in our region, and it’s wonderful to see these two local attractions come together. We encourage our visitors to make a trip to the farm and show their support.” 

The 2017 corn maze is an outdoor adventure that boggles the mind with its vast eight-plus acres of pathways, turning points and dead ends. Part of an increasingly popular “agritainment” trend, it will be joined this year by more than 265 “MAiZE” sites in U.S., Canada, Poland and the UK. 

The popular maze, which drew thousands of visitors last fall, will once again get curious maze-goers lost when it opens to the public on Sept. 16, and runs through Oct. 31. 

Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday (last admission is 30 minutes before closing.) On Friday and Saturday nights starting Sept. 29, hours will extend to 10 p.m. for a nighttime flashlight maze (last admission takes place at 9 p.m.). 

Group reservations are available at any time, and school field trips are available during regular school hours by reservation. For more information, call Stoughton Farm at (607) 642-3675 or email to info@stoughtonfarm.com.