Sunflower maze — bigger than before — returns to Clinton County farm
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MILL HALL -- The beloved sunflower maze is back for 2023.
With the summer in full swing, the Dotterer family is ready to welcome the community back to the farm for the second year of its sunflower maze.
Doug Dotterer, his wife Cortney and their planning committee have enjoyed planning out the entire event, which includes a lot of family-friendly and community-oriented features.
"This year, the maze is three times bigger than it was in 2022, totaling nearly 25 acres of maze and three acres for parking and vendors," said Cortney.
The maze includes an on-site photographer, an area to pick your own sunflowers, wheelchair friendly access, multiple paths to get lost in, an elevated look-out area to view the scenery and even an option to tour the family's dairy farm.
There will also be a few food vendors set up on-site throughout the duration of the maze.
The maze was planted at the beginning of June by farmer Doug Dotterer using a Precision Ag GPS system, which allows for the walking area to be precisely removed out of the planting process, creating less work and more efficiency.
Although planting conditions were a little harsh from super dry conditions, the sunflowers were well looked after from seed to this week's blooming period.
"Mother nature has been a little rough to us this year, but we are thankful to have the right equipment to keep the sunflowers irrigated to guarantee the proper growth of the flowers, " said Doug. "At the end of their life, these sunflowers will be harvested and sent to Chatham Run Feed Mill to be used for bird feed."
New this year, the family's 1,200 cow dairy farm adjacent to the maze will offer farm tours on Saturday and Sundays only, beginning at 9 a.m. and ending at 7 p.m.
The maze includes educational signage throughout to teach people of all ages about agriculture, including the family's dairy farm.
The maze will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 7 days a week until the flowers lose their prime -- which is estimated to be about two weeks.
The event is open rain or shine and is located just off of Route 64 near Dotterer Equipment. Updates for the event can be found on the "Dotterer Grown" Facebook page.