Alberta family’s annual corn maze creation resonates with connections that are both national and personal
The Kraay family has been using its corn maze to celebrate Canada, Alberta and the Lacombe community for 20 years.
Through its maze designs, the family has previously celebrated Terry Fox and Rick Hansen for their national contributions. This year’s version pays tribute to one of the most famous medical breakthroughs of the 20th century by Canadians Frederick Banting and Charles Best: the discovery of insulin 100 years ago.
The theme was chosen in part because of the family’s direct connection with diabetes and its treatment with insulin.
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“(It’s) because our daughter is a Type 1 diabetic,” said Rachel Kraay, owner of the Kraay Family Farm. “Insulin is life-saving for our daughter and many others.”
While technology has made it much easier to create intricate corn mazes, Kraay said the family still does it the old-fashioned way.
“For a few days we walk the maze and we flag it out in a grid and we paint where we want the paths to be, and someone comes behind with a rotor-tiller and we do it when the corn is about three inches high,” she said.
Creation of the corn maze is a tradition that has grown over time and now attracts up to 30,000 people each year, including repeat visitors, who take their turn at getting lost and found in the twists and tangles of the maze.
The family farm has other activities as well, but Kraay said this year they want people to recognize and celebrate the life-saving invention of Banting and Best and its connection with her family.
“You take for granted when you don’t have to think about what your blood sugar is doing every day,” said Kraay. “It’s a thing (those with diabetes) have to think about day and night.”
Kraay noted Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease, while Type 2 can be caused by lifestyle choices.
“It is a very relentless disease so we are very much trying to raise money to cure Type 1 diabetes and make life easier for those who have it,” said Kraay.
Proceeds raised through the corn maze will go toward the non-profit Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, which has a mandate to find a cure.
