Nevada corn maze captures USDA’s attention

When Rick Lattin of Lattin Farms in Fallon planted his corn maze last May, he didn’t know it would draw the attention of the White House.

Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan visited Nevada earlier this month and was so delighted with the theme of the Lattin Farms maze, Know Your Farmer Know Your Food, that she posted a picture of it to the White House Blog.

The maze is carved out of 3 acres of corn, with a design that features produce, dairy and other farm products. The theme was inspired by the USDA Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative to better connect consumers with local producers.

This is the 12th year for the maze which has a different design cut into the corn each year.

“We love this new USDA campaign,” farmer Rick Lattin said in a press release. “We used it for our maze because it’s the perfect way to educate people while they’re having fun. We have a trail quiz inside the maze with questions about Nevada agriculture.”

Lattin is founder of NevadaGrown, a nonprofit association that promotes Nevada farmers.