About Us

In December 2002, just two weeks before Christmas, Eddie Conner, a 5th generation farmer in Nassau County, found himself unexpectedly out of a job. A knock at the door that day, two hours before it was reported on TV, delivered the news that Mr. Conner and 88 other poultry growers were being put out of business as Tyson closed its poultry operation in north Florida.

As fate would have it, Amanda McLendon, the Conner’s daughter, and her friend Beth Gregory, who worked at Farm Bureau in Callahan, had visited a corn maze in Jennings, FL, two years earlier. They returned from that visit so excited that they urged Mr. Conner to open a maze on the family farm immediately. However, Mr. Conner, managing four poultry houses that produced approximately 400,000 chickens a year, along with cattle and hay, dismissed the idea as nonsense.

As the Tyson closure weighed heavily on the Conner family’s future, they began discussing various options to secure their livelihood. They remembered Amanda and Beth's trip to the maze in Jennings and felt inspired to explore this idea further. After praying for guidance, conducting research online, talking with their children, and visiting two Florida mazes, they were encouraged by a farmer who said, “It has been the most fun in farming I have ever had.” This motivated the Conners to take a giant leap of faith and join the Maize organization.

Then the work began…

After replanting the maze three times due to weather challenges, Conner’s A-Maize-Ing Acres finally opened on October 18, 2003. The inaugural season was a tremendous success, welcoming approximately 12,000 visitors who came to “Get Lost” while enjoying quality family fun. The farm attractions also hosted over 6,000 school children on field trips in their first year, receiving high praise from teachers and students for education, organization, and offering a lot of carefree fun.

The Conner family story is one of resilience and dedication, as they strive to educate the public on the importance of agriculture education and the vital role of the American farmer. They are quick to share that without God’s blessings and the support of family, friends, and their church community, this journey would not have been possible.