{"id":27199,"date":"2022-12-05t19:42:34","date_gmt":"2022-12-05t19:42:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dev.planetforward.com\/2022\/12\/05\/navigating-a-new-era-in-agritourism-persistent-drought-in-west-texas-causes-corn-maze-owners-to-reimagine-fall-tradition\/"},"modified":"2023-02-24t16:55:30","modified_gmt":"2023-02-24t16:55:30","slug":"texas-corn-maze-alternative","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/\/www.getitdoneaz.com\/story\/texas-corn-maze-alternative\/","title":{"rendered":"navigating a new era in agritourism: persistent drought in west texas causes corn maze owners to reimagine fall tradition"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

many crisp autumn afternoons have been spent getting lost in corn mazes all over the country, but a drought in the high plains of texas has prompted one of these mazes to take a new approach to the beloved fall tradition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

this year, visitors looking for a fun fall activity are in for a surprise when they head to at\u2019l do farms, located just outside of lubbock, texas, for there will be no corn found. in its place – a maze of multi-species cover crops that contains seven different plants. sorghum, sunflowers, pearl and foxtail millet, cowpeas, sun hemp and radishes will all work together to reduce water inputs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

a family affair<\/h2>\n\n\n
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a sign at the entrance to the maze explains why the maze has a new look. instead of corn, maze navigators will see seven drought-tolerant crops working together to increase biodiversity and soil health while reducing water consumption. (katie perkins)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

eric simpson was born and raised on the same property that at\u2019l do farms still calls home today, and agriculture has been a family affair for generations. originally, the land was a monoculture system that rotated growing cotton, sorghum and wheat until the mid-\u201990s. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

when a low period hit, the simpson family was forced to reevaluate their business. they decided to use the land in a different way and planted their first corn maze in an attempt to bring visitors to the farm and generate a new stream of revenue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cit became more and more profitable and in fact, we slowly transitioned out of the production side of agriculture and now we just do the maze and a kind of agritourism type of industry,\u201d simpson said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

at\u2019l do farms has operated the maze and other fall attractions for 21 years and the farm now welcomes over 50,000 visitors each season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

slideshow by katie perkins<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

a dry area in drying times<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

dubbed the llano estacado<\/a> by early spanish settlers, this region is an approximately 32,000 square mile plateau situated atop the southern boundary of the ogallala aquifer that receives an average of 18 inches of precipitation a year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n