LEVANT, Maine — Treworgy Family Orchards in Levant is hoping to be USA Today's Best Corn Maze for the third year in a row. This year’s design features the children’s book character Peter Rabbit in his signature blue jacket stealing carrots from Mr. McGregor's garden.
Children's stories like "Charlotte’s Web" and "Winnie The Pooh," have inspired Kat Jenkins in previous years, and this year is no different.
Her design process begins with scouring the pages of picture books before sitting down to sketch out her idea. She says, "I wouldn't have considered myself an artist before this, but I do now."
That is because her designs have been always ranked best and second-best in the country in USA Today's 10 Best polling.
During the sketching process, Jenkins says she enjoys the creative constraints a maze brings.
"I added little fun Easter eggs. Like he's got a little shovel in his pocket sort of deal. I love to sneak those little fun things in there," she said. "Seeing how much detail I can get while still holding true to having an actual maze. It's really a fun challenge."
Treworgy started creating mazes in 2001 and despite the introduction of high-tech options like GPS-enabled tractors, their methods have stayed the same, plotting out the design on a grid of sticks and string.
Past maze designer, part-owner and operations director, Jon Kenerson hopes their home-grown approach keeps them at the top of the rankings again this year.
"A lot of other farms will just buy a design from a national maze company," he said. "We do all the design, and layout and cultivating ourselves."
Voting for USA Today's top corn maze runs through Sept. 9 with fans able to vote once per day per device. Tickets for the maze are $13 with discounts for groups and off-peak days. The maze will be open through the end of October.