Eckert’s Seeks Artist to Design Corn Maze: Proceeds Benefit STLCF Scholarship Fund
Eckert’s Farm, the family farm with locations in Belleville, Millstadt and Grafton, IL as well as Versailles, Kentucky, recently announced a design contest for one lucky creative to design Eckert’s Millstadt Farm (2719 Eckert Orchard Ln, Millstadt, IL 62260) famous corn maze. This year’s theme is Healthcare Heroes, a recognition of all the ways our healthcare workers and first responders have helped our communities during the Covid-19 pandemic. Winning artwork will be selected by a panel of Eckert’s judges on June 1, 2021. The winner’s artwork will be cut into the 12-acre cornfield at Eckert’s Millstadt Farm this summer, and the maze will open to the public in September. Eckert’s Millstadt Farm will donate $1 of each farm admission ticket to the Friends of Saint Louis Municipal School of Nursing Scholarship, a scholarship fund at the St. Louis Community Foundation, in September.
Eckert’s Millstadt Farm will donate $1 of each farm admission ticket to the Friends of Saint Louis Municipal School of Nursing Scholarship in September. The poster contest winner will receive an Eckert’s Farm Prize Pack full of goodies and free experiences to enjoy special visits to the farm. Guests of all ages and abilities are encouraged to participate by uploading a sketch of their design on Eckert’s website here
“Every season, our guests ask what the corn maze design will be. This season, our theme is Healthcare Heroes, and you could be the one to design it,” says Chris Eckert, president of Eckert’s Inc. “We hope that this is a fun way for guests to think about all of the ways that our healthcare workers continue to assist the community each day.”
Judges will consider overall artwork as it relates to this year’s theme of healthcare heroes and general thoughtfulness and fun of the proposed art.
“The poster can be created in any artistic medium, including digital, paint acrylic, magic marker, watercolor or other creative suites,” continues Eckert. “The contest is for all ages and abilities to contribute and have fun.”
Eckert’s encourages participants to draw what they feel will honor these heroes. If someone special inspired a drawing, share that story in the online entry form (not required).
Eckert’s has featured logos for the St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, St. Louis Science Center and Scott Air Force base in the 12-acre fun maze in the past. This year, the winning artist will see his or her poster come to life as it inspires a living, walkable adventure corn maze that will be developed by Designer Dave, Maize Quest’s world-renown corn maze designer.
“After the hardships from the Covid-19 pandemic, we knew that this year’s honorees would be our local healthcare workers and first responders. While the corn maze is just a small tribute of thanks, we hope that guests will visit the farm as we will donate a portion of sales back to these heroes in September,” continues Eckert.
Eckert’s Millstadt corn maze will open on Saturday, September 4. The farm will also host a special weekend for healthcare workers, first responders and their families to enjoy the Millstadt Farm for free on Friday, September 17-Sunday, September 19 with proper photo identification.
For more information, visit www.eckerts.com.
About Eckert’s:
Eckert’s Inc. is the largest family-owned and operated pick-your-own orchard in the United States. Originally established as a farm and simple roadside stand in Illinois, the Eckert family now owns and operates farming, entertainment and retail entities in Belleville, Grafton and Millstadt, Illinois as well as most recently, Versailles, Kentucky. For a century, Eckert’s has been a local source for agricultural products including asparagus, beets, zucchini, kale, squash, onions and peppers, strawberries, blackberries, peaches, apples and pumpkins, and more. Guests of Eckert’s farms get to experience the farming practices firsthand with the farms’ pick-your-own produce experiences during growing seasons. Today, Eckert’s offers year-round programming for all at their farms and Country Store. For more information, visit www.eckerts.com Follow on social media @eckertfarms on Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and Pinterest.
About St. Louis Community Foundation
The St. Louis Community Foundation is a nonprofit foundation with approximately 800 charitable funds with total assets more than $502 million. Each fund represents a unique charitable giving partnership between an individual, family, or business and designated nonprofit recipients. The St. Louis Community Foundation inspires purposeful philanthropy that connects community and donors to build and preserve a more equitable and vibrant region, now and forever. Over the last 10 years, St. Louis Community Foundation and its donors made nearly $600 million in grants to charitable organizations.