Corn maze honors former president Reagan

PEKIN, Ill. -- A central Illinois farmer has created an unusual tribute to Ronald Reagan: a 15-acre corn maze carved in the likeness of the former president.

Todd Uhlman said he got the inspiration for the maze from media coverage following Reagan's June death.

"Who better than Illinois' native son?" he told the (Peoria) Journal Star.

To create the maze, Uhlman hired Brett Herbst, owner of Spanish Fork, Utah-based The MAiZE. The design is plotted on a computer program, the site is marked with stakes and then mowed to create the image, which can be seen from an aerial view.

It is the fifth straight year Uhlman has carved a design into the field. His first maze was in the shape of two pumpkins to promote pumpkin sales on his farms. The last three years have featured characters from the Wizard of Oz.

Uhlman hopes to attract 10,000 visitors to the Reagan maze, which will be on display Sept. 10 through Oct. 31.