Corn maze design inspired by Colorado state quarter

LA SALLE -- Colorado's commemorative quarter design will be larger than life this fall with the help of a Coloradan who helped coin the phrase, "corn maze."

Glen and Pam Fritzler, founder of Colorado's original corn maze in 2000, has announced that this year's maze pays tribute to the state's quarter by featuring it in his maze at La Salle.

"Because 2006 marks our seventh year of creating corn mazes in Colorado. We really want to do something special," Fritzler said. "As soon as I learned that Gov. Owens was unveiling the commemorative quarter design this year, I knew this was it. It's a milestone for our state and I'm really excited to help honor it."

This fall event has drawn more than 150,000 Colorado-county visitors since it originated in 2000.

Along with carving the design into the maze, Fritzler also plans to incorporate the commemorative coin into the ever-popular school field trips that he offers. Drawing from extensive curriculum materials being provided by the U.S. Mint, students will be able to learn more about the 50 State Quarters Program as they navigate their way through the 13-acre labyrinth.

"It's always been our goal to educate kids about agriculture during their visit to the maze. Now we'll be able to build on that and offer a second learning opportunity in the same field trip visit," Fritzler said.

This year's maze was designed with the help of Brett Herbst, founder of Corn MAiZE in Utah.

Herbst grew up on a farm in Salmon, Idaho, and graduated with a degree in agribusiness from Brigham Young University in 1995. Following a year with the worldwide Farm Management Co., he founded The MAiZE in American Fork, Utah. Since 1996, he has designed more than 1,000 mazes worldwide that have challenged and thrilled more than 12 million visitors. The MAiZE is now the world's largest corn maze consulting company.

Breakout: The Fritzler Maze will open Sept. 15. For more information, visit www.Fritzlermaze.com