by Katherine Preble
The perennially popular A and G Corn Maze located at 10448 345th St. in St. Joseph began 15 years ago as a personal tribute to the deceased father of Jessie Whitehorse, an entrepreneur, agriculturist, mother and hard-wired dreamer.
Faced with the immense grief of losing her father, Roger Mensing, to cancer, Whitehorse found herself yearning for a chance to make one more memory with him. That sorrow became a powerful catalyst to forge a living legacy honoring her father’s spirit. As Whitehorse recalled during an interview with the Newsleaders, her father was truly “all over this place,” his presence ingrained in its very essence. She envisioned a welcoming haven, a time and space for locals to shed their worries and revel in the pure joys of the autumn season. So now, with every fall’s harvest, she cultivates a place with her family where other families can create their own precious moments.
Whitehorse’s efforts to establish one of the first corn mazes in Minnesota and the largest in the tri-county area is a testament to perseverance. In 2004, the property was bare land, where Jessie lived in a trailer as she built her home and began selling fresh strawberries at the St. Joseph Farmers’ Market. From those beginnings, her dream blossomed into a magnificent destination, crowned by its signature attraction – an expansive eight-acre A and G corn maze named for her two eldest children, Akeelah and Gavin.
Designed for all ages, the labyrinth offers two challenges. The beginner phase offers a puzzle, typically solvable in about 20 minutes, geared to younger explorers or those seeking a gentle introduction. The second phase presents a stimulating journey, taking anywhere from 45 to 60 minutes to navigate. That advanced section also puts visitors’ trivia knowledge to the test as adventurers discover 10 numbered stations throughout the maze, where a correct answer to a question provides the directional clue for the visitor’s next turn. A wrong answer, however, might lead a visitor astray.
Guests can also defy gravity on the enormous bouncing pillow or embark on a ride aboard the “Cow Train.” The farm also offers a corn pit for sensory fun, such as “Human Foosball,” “Pumpkin Checkers” and a pumpkin patch brimming with fall’s bounty.
The Newsleaders visited the corn maze on Oct 18 to get reactions from its visitors.
“There are four generations of my family here today,” said Diane Roering of Sauk Rapids as she held her grandson, Kaymani Spears. “Oh well, now that’s really something!”
Meantime, her great-granddaughter, Trinity Spears, ran the “Human Hamster” wheel.
“This is so much fun” she said, giggling into the wind.
The corn maze depends on a robust collaboration. Whitehorse, along with her family, friends and dedicated volunteers, pour their collective passion into every facet of the event. They actively partner with artists who bring designs to life within the maze. They also support small agricultural businesses with a deep commitment to local growth and prosperity. The creative and practical process for the maze is constantly ongoing. Plans for next year’s intricate maze designs often begin even before the current season concludes. This year, designers drew inspiration from country music star Lainey Wilson. Past themes have relied upon diverse inspirations, from honoring Whitehorse’s daughter, who is a pioneering barrel-racing rodeo rider, to dedicating the very first maze design to cancer awareness. Proceeds from a race through the maze benefited pancreatic-cancer research.
To find out about additional future events and hosting possibilities, find A and G Corn Maze on Instagram, visit aandgcornmaze.com or email aandgcornmazemn@gmail.com.
At the Z & G Corn Maze in rural St. Joseph Oct. 18, four family generations enjoy “Goat Fishing,” using lettuce leaves as “bait.” From left to right are Abdullah Abdullah, Trinity Spears, Melissa Roering, Jasmine Spears and Diane Roering, holding her great-grandson Kaymani Spears.
