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Show Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011 Page 4 AggieLife Utah State University • Logan, Utah • www.utahstatesman. A CORNY WW BY MACKENZI VAN ENGELENHOVEN staff writer Ag al 1 A field just off Main Street holds a place where visitors are told to "Get lost." Green Canyon Corn Maze has a 20-acre span, which makes it the largest corn maze in Cache Valley. It has become an annual tradition and a popular autumn activity for visitors and residents of all ages. "We've been doing this for 12 years," said Nancy Jensen, whose family owns the maze. "It takes a month to prepare it, but we spend all year thinking about it." The maze is unique, she said, for many reasons. Each year owners Ron and Nancy Jensen create a unique design that forms the paths through the field. This year the theme is Egyptian, with the sphinx, two pyramids and a sun cut into the corn. "With all the unrest that's been going on in Egypt we thought it'd be a kind of neat theme," Nancy Jensen said. Even though the patrons in the maze can't see the pictures, the owners agree, it helps them find the way around. "People like to know where they are," Ron Jensen said. "We have a lot of people who like to say 'We're in the head,' or 'We're in the face.' Most customers like to know how they're progressing through the maze, and the design helps them." The process of creating trails through the maze takes from two weeks to a month to complete, he said. "After we create the picture, we put a graph over top of it," Nancy Jensen said. "Then we measure it with a big, long tape measure and mark it in the field. Then we dig out the corn with a tractor." Ron Jensen said the Green Canyon Corn Maze is the largest maze of its kind in Cache Valley so it's difficult to go through without getting lost. For this reason, he said, there is a tower halfway through the maze to help visitors find their way. They are also provided maps for extra help. For those looking for a shorter experience, the maze offers a halfway point exit. "There's some that get out okay," said Ron. "But they GeT LOST THE ANNUAL GREEN CANYON Corn Maze hosts a gentle walkthrough for timid customers and a haunted attraction for those willing to brave chainsaws. This year's maze has an Egyptian theme. CODY GOCHNOUR photos understand that they're the lucky ones." While going through the corn maze, patrons can also search for 'corny cash.' "It's fake money that's tied up to the cornstalks, and if they find those they get free stuff," Ron Jensen said. These vouchers can be redeemed at the ticket office for prizes such as free soda, candy or even free admission. While Green Canyon Corn Maze may seem harmless during the weekdays, on Friday and Saturday nights the maze hosts a variety of potentially frightening attractions. According to Ron Jensen, the thrills during the haunted nights are designed in a way that isn't gory or gross. The frights are based primarily on startling guests. With acres of corn, he said, there are infinite numbers of places for haunters to hide. "We like to go for the startles," Nancy Jensen said. "That's the best. That way it's just good clean fun." Ron Jensen said even though the maze is visited by many college students during the day, the haunted weekend nights attract the largest USU crowds. "I loved the tension they created," said Dallyn Steenerson, a Logan resident and former USU student who attended the maze. "You can hear the sounds of chainsaws in the distance, and then you See VISITORS, Page 6 Pinky promises, plates and ping pong balls BY NOELLE JOHANSEN staff writer Derald Miller is a game show star, a lacrosse player and an entrepreneur. He is also a USU alumnus and the brain behind a new iPhone application called Pinky Promise that is taking over iPhones everywhere — one pinky at a time. Miller grew up in Denver, where he said he developed a knack for running business early in life. "Ever since I was a little kid, I've had lawn mowing businesses and sticker companies," Miller said. "When people hear entrepreneur, young — they think unemployed." That couldn't be further from the truth in Miller's case. His mother, Margo Miller, saw her son's drive even before the lawn mowing businesses. "He just has always been really industrious," Margo Miller said. "He would spend lots and lots of time just building and designing with Lego's, DERALD MILLER AND MICHELLE HAUGH compete on "Minute to Win It" in January 2011, winning $50,000 between them. Miller, a USU alumnus, invested the money on an iPhone application. • 30 acres of Fall Fun r Halloween scares where you could see his interest in building and making and figuring things out." Business seems to run in the Miller family. Derald Miller's father Robert Miller is the executive director of The Shingo Prize for Operational Excellence from the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business. "He's been entrepreneurial his whole life," Robert Miller said. "It's been his nature. He really enjoys creating, and he enjoys being the master of his own destiny. Derald Miller has been one who's been willing to invest his own skin and to take the risk of failure." In 2001 Derald Miller said he decided he belonged at USU, which is where he played for the men's lacrosse team during his freshman year. He briefly left USU to finish a degree in business at Utah Valley University, only to return to USU for his master's degree in 2008, he said. He started a business — one he is still at the helm of — at 22 years old. After completing his master's, Derald Miller said he moved to California. While there, he was recruited by representatives from NBC to enter "boot camp" for the television game show "Minute to Win It." Derald Miller described this boot camp as a bunch of Type A personalities playing games all day. "It was just the most fun day of my life," he said. While at boot camp, Derald Miller said he was introduced to Michelle Haugh, who later became his team partner on episode No. 6 of • Larye el- small Gorn Mazes • $pooity ••arn Wayon See WINNINGS, Page 6 KIMBERLY SHORTS photo Muth more than just a Gorn Maze! • Huye Straw dale Pyramid with Tunnels • Fence in the CArass Maze the second season of "Minute to Win It." Derald Miller said he thought he and his teammate were selected for the show because of their impressive performances during boot camp. Over the next two months before taping, Derald Miller said he and Haugh had plenty of time to practice all of the odd games they might have to play on television. The games on "Minute to Win" It included tasks like stacking plastic cups into pyramids, bouncing pingpong balls off of dinner plates into a fishbowl and completing puzzles made out of cereal boxes — all of which must be done successfully in 60 seconds or less. Derald Miller and Michelle's practice paid off, he said, with a game that required one person to spin a quarter and the other to stop it, on end, with a single finger. "We probably practiced that game until two in the morning one night," Derald Miller said. "We did really well. We got really far in the game." The team reached the $250,000 level with no Good for entire group with this coupon. Little Bear Bottoms Open Monday-Thursday 5 — 10 pm • Friday 5 —11 pm Saturday 1-11 pm • Open UEA Weekend 1 p.m. Check out a complete activity schedule at www.lbbcornmaze.com 0.2 miles South of Burger King in Wellsville on the East side of HWY 89. 411141 Pumpkin Launch Oct.15th at 11 am $2 per person |