Mercedes family promotes education through corn maze

MERCEDES - Though rain kept visitors from weaving though the McCutchen family’s corn maze Sunday, plenty of people came out to be spooked during its opening weekend.

The McCutchens, with the help of corn maze designer Bret Herbst, converted their 5-acre cornfield into the Rio Grande Valley MAiZE about five years ago. The family also has a haunted maze across Mile 8 North Road open on Friday and Saturday nights throughout the month of October for those looking for a good scare in time for Halloween. The Rio Grande Valley MAiZE will be open through mid-December.

Each year a new theme is mowed into the cornfield. This year, the McCutchens are honoring U.S. Rep. Rubén Hinojosa, D-Mercedes, for his work with education. The haunted maze actually spells out D-E-D-I-C-A-T-I-O-N-TO-E-D-U-C-A-T-I-O-N, and its other maze includes education-related items.

As people curve around the letters they face being greeted by horror movie villains, monsters and other characters affiliated with the holiday.

“It’s the element of surprise that really gets people,” said Laura McCutchen. “Every turn there is something different.”

In keeping with the education theme, students from Mercedes High School are volunteering as those greeters.

Laura McCutchen, who has been a teacher in the Mercedes and La Feria school districts for 18 years, said the regular corn maze is open throughout the fall for field trips for schools, youth groups and other youth organizations. During those field trips students are given “passports” that list 10 questions for students to answer to navigate them through the maze.

This year’s field trips start Oct. 19, she said.

The McCutchens got into the agri-entertainment business about 30 years ago as a way to make extra money, Laura McCutchen said.

In addition to the mazes, visitors can also enjoy hay rides and a playground for younger children.

The haunted maze will open again Friday night and the regular maze will open Saturday.

For more information, visit www.riograndealleymaize.com.

Jennifer L. Berghom covers education and general assignments for The Monitor. She can be reached at (956) 683-4462.