A Wisconsin family farm recently revealed the design for its corn maze that has a deeper meaning.
Govin’s Farm, which has been owned by John and Julie Govin for 30 years, operates a strawberry field during the summer, but during the fall it opens an 11-acre corn maze and a three-acre pumpkin patch.
According to WQOW, the farm is only an hour away from Minneapolis, Minnesota has become an annual attractive tradition for local families.
The maze showed several different designs over the past 11 years including NFL’s Green Bay Packers, 4-H, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and Walk to End Alzheimer’s.
One of John’s family members commits suicide. When they thought about the design for the fall corn maze, he and his wife knew that it is the best idea to help others who may also be struggling with suicidal thoughts.
John told The Western Journal that the sudden death in his family made him realize just how much suicide affects the family members.
“It was always someone else’s family that you have sympathy for them, but it really hits home when you’re directly involved in it,” John said. “That’s when you realize how hard this is.”
“When somebody commits suicide, they think it’s going to end their pain but all it does is transfer their pain to everyone that’s left.”
The maze features the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s number with an encouraging message: “Your life matters.”
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a 24/7 hotline that supports for individuals who are in a suicidal crisis or in emotional distress.
“The idea that we could do a corn maze regarding suicide was a simple thing,” John told The Western Journal. “We decided on the way to the funeral.”