On Sept. 14, 2008, Eby expected gusty winds, not 50-mph winds.
But as the remnants of Hurricane Ike blew through the Miami Valley, Eby’s corn survived.
“I always plant it late so it stays green,” Eby said. “On Sept. 14 it was still green, and when the stalk’s green, it can flex.”
Other corn mazes weren’t so lucky.
“When they dry out, they’re just brittle and they just break off,” Eby said.
This year, the 12th for the maze, Eby built a permanent structure at the site for his wife, Marie, to sell her pumpkins and decorative items.
This year’s maze, called “Let Freedom Ring,” is a Liberty Bell — without its historic crack.
Eby’s home-built “Punkin’ Chunkin’ Cannon” returns to shoot pumpkins beyond sight with compressed air. It’s especially popular at night when Eby coats pumpkins with glow-in-the-dark paint.
“It looks like a shooting star,” Eby said.
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