Agricultural Operations at California State University, Fresno has partnered with Knott’s Berry Farm to provide 10,000 student-produced corn plants, whose stalks are being used in a maze through Halloween.
In September, students hand-harvested, bundled and shipped the corn to the Buena Park entertainment attraction in Orange County for use in its Cornstalker Maze – part of Knott’s Scary Farm 2010 Haunt.
It’s the first time the Fresno State farm and students in the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology have been involved with Knott’s Berry Farm.
High-quality, tall corn stalks with sufficient vigor to last from the maze’s opening Sept. 24 through Oct. 31, were shipped south. The Fresno State farm grows more than 100 acres of corn during the summer to feed campus dairy cattle.
Proceeds from the sale of corn plants to the maze benefits education and research in which Jordan College students get hands-on experience – a hallmark of Fresno State’s agriculture program.
Knott’s senior publicist Jennifer Blazey, was very pleased with the Fresno State corn stalks.
“In the past, the corn we obtained was not as tall and thick and healthy as the corn we received this year from Fresno State,” Blazey said, “With thick, tall stalks of corn in place our monsters have wonderful places to hide and have the ability to pull off some amazing scares.”
The attraction opens at 7 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday, closing at 1 a.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday and 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
(Copy prepared by University Communications ag-news intern Sadie Thomas.)
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