PRESCOTT – A new fall attraction is set to open for business on Friday, Sept. 26 along the Great River Road on a farm that’s been in the Langer family for four generations.

Kenny Langer Jr., along with his dad and son, have been working hard to get the Big River Corn Maze, located at N4379 State Road 35 at the JF Langer Family Farm, ready for families to enjoy. The property has been in the family for four generations, Langer Sr. said, since 1947 when he and his parents moved there from a farm in the town of Diamond Bluff. They raise beef, crops and hay on the 240 acres.

Almost two decades ago, Langer Jr. thought it would be a great idea to open a corn maze when Nesbitt’s Orchard (now Young Acres) across the road opened.

“I thought it would be a great idea in tandem with them,” he said. “And our location on the Great River Road with the fall leaves. There’s a lot of traffic from the River Road.”

It’s all in the timing. This year is the year Langer Jr.’s dream comes true. Big River Corn Maze offers three courses through 15 acres, totaling 7.5 miles of paths. The courses vary in difficulty and length, so there’s something for every age group. Hard copy maps and QR code maps will be available.

“It’s a bit of a jump from the intermediate to the difficult,” Langer Jr. said. “I’m ready to race anyone in the intermediate. I know how to get through that one fast.”

Langer Jr. said the design for the maze has been in his head and he decided to go for it. He is grateful to LeAllan Huppert Farms, Puhrmann Farms, and Ag Partners for their contributions in bringing the maze to life. With precision farming techniques, a prescription, or pattern, is put together for planting the corn.

“Ag Partners in Ellsworth, one of their agronomists was excited about it,” Langer Jr. said. “Convert that artwork into a prescription. They use a varying rate of application as they go across the field with fertilizer and seed. You plan it like you would regularly plant and your application map shows up in the pattern.”

Langer Sr., who turns 90 on Nov. 1, marvels at the technology used in farming these days, with GPS units, sensors, drones, satellites and auto-steering. It’s a lot different than when he was growing up.

“It feels like spur of the moment, but you put a lot of thought into this and the what ifs and the vision of it,” Langer Jr. said. “Ideally, I was planning a year ago. I already knew what we needed to do, such as permitting.”

The maze will also feature wagon rides, gravity wagon basketball, a petting zoo featuring goats, pigs, calves and ducks; slingshot apples, a 20-foot culvert slide, a round bale climbing course, antique tractors, a corn pit, a maker’s market and food trucks. Proceeds from the food tent will benefit area charities and American Legions, 4-H clubs, Building Without Borders and River Valley Charities. It’s not for sure yet, but they may even throw in some line dancing and chain saw carving demonstrations, Langer Jr. said.

Langer Jr.’s son Bailey has been helping every step of the way. He has a passion for it and has been involved in the planning, along with other family and friends.

“It’s been a lot of work but it’s a lot of fun,” Bailey said. “It seems like more work than I thought it was going to be, but it’s been a fun process. Talking with people around town who are excited about it has me excited.”

The maze will be open starting Friday, Sept. 26 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays through Sundays up until Halloween. On Halloween, a moonlit maze will be held from 6-10 p.m. Don’t worry: No one will be leaping out of the corn to get you.

Admission is $20 per person (age 5 and under free) with $5 off if you bring a donation for the food pantry, which is in need of oatmeal packets, low sugar cereal bars, trail mix, whole grain crackers, granola, protein bars, fruit pouches with no sugar added, pasta mixes, heat and eat soups, tuna, Hamburger Helper, and 100% juice boxes.

The Langers are excited to welcome people to their farm; they’re already thinking of additions for next year.

“You can’t do it all in one year. You got all these ideas,” Langer Jr. laughed. “You get an idea and you go with it, continually improve and build on it.”

Follow “Big River Corn Maze” on Facebook for updates. “Come for the maze and stay for the day!”