Nashville Predators hockey becomes theme of epic 4-acre corn maze design at Lucky Ladd Farms

Something curious has cropped up on the Ladds' farm this year.

Hockey-themed corn.

In honor of all things Nashville Predators, Lucky Ladd Farms has turned its 4-acre corn maze into an homage to hockey.

Cut carefully into towering, 8-foot-high stalks of golden grain are cool images. Cool as ice.

The Predators logo dominates the lush green space, taking up more than an acre of the maze with its huge sabertooth piercing a path right toward the cornfield center.

A large hockey player shooting a puck is another corn-stalk star, stretching almost acre in size. And speaking of stars, the maze also features the Nashville skyline, a dedication to the diehard fans of Cellblock 303, and the state's tri-star symbol.

Of course, no Predators-themed corn maze is complete without a catfish. And there's one of those, too.

► MORE: Fish tale: How the catfish toss came to be a Predators thing

"We really enjoyed watching the Predators and how the city came alive through the Stanley Cup run," says maze designer Amy Ladd, who walks the land with a Farm Girl cap pulled over her short hair as she gets ready for Wednesday's grand opening.

"We really wanted to make it more personal for the fans."

The design idea that almost didn't happen

The seed for the idea was planted months ago, but it almost didn't happen.

The corn maze has been a farm tradition for nine years, as thousands of families flock to Lucky Ladd each fall to pet the sheep, feed the goats, hop on a hayride and find their perfect pumpkin.

Amy Ladd reached out to the Predators this summer for the official stamp of approval, but when she didn't hear back right away she started thinking of a Plan B.

She was just about to get started on her second idea — a solar eclipse theme — when the Preds responded that they were really excited about the hockey homage.

Ladd's team quickly finalized the details, just three weeks before the maze needed to be cut.

How exactly is a corn maze made, anyway?

"I always tell people it is rocket science, but software makes it a lot easier," quips maze-making expert Stanley Wise.

Wise, a Ladd family friend who lives in Pontotoc, Miss., has been in the maze business since 2003. He used to do it as a service for farmers when he worked a Mississippi State University as a county agent. 

When he retired, he continued the craft as a side gig.

He begins by collecting GPS points around the perimeter. Once he has that, the designer — in this case, Amy Ladd — sketches the idea inside the boundaries.

Ladd used to hand-draw her sketches on graph paper (she has had scarecrows, pumpkins and even Ford Mustangs in her maze before), but now she does designs in Photoshop. Once she has the images laid out, she takes some parts out and connects others to make it an actual maze.

"You have to put the dead ends in," Ladd says, "and do all the fun stuff that helps you get lost."

Then Wise loads it onto the computer, using agriculture software called Farm Works. The software helps georeference the picture.

Once he has the coordinates for all the cuts, Wise heads out into the field with his handheld computer and a "very powerful backpack receiver," which helps him map the design.

Wise walks the path and someone — in this case Amy Ladd's husband of 13 years, Jason — follows Wise with a lawnmower, cutting miles of winding trails in the cornfield using the GPS system for guidance.

Cuts come early

The ideal corn length for cutting is when the stalks are still sprouting, standing between 10 inches and 2-feet high. Any shorter and it grows back. Any longer and it can be hard to mow down or see over.

And, in case you were wondering: The ideal cutting tool is a 5-foot-wide, zero-turn riding lawnmower. At Lucky Ladd, they used a weed eater for some of the skinnier paths.

They did all the work at the end of July, so the corn would be just the right height and a lush green for Wednesday's grand opening. It took only four hours.

A Preds fan in the making?

Wise has cut all sorts of crazy mazes over the years. 

He just finished one in the shape of a cow having a birthday party at the Mayfield Dairy Farm in Athens, Tenn.

This year, on his own farm, he has one in the shape of an iPhone. He is calling it iFarm, and it features a screen with the Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat apps, along with a tractor, corn cob and donkey.

But, when he got the Ladds' design, he had to do a little research first. 

"I didn’t even know what Predators were," he admits. "I had to look up what the catfish meant and what 303 was."

He said what he found was "wild." He also recently attended a hockey game with his son in Aberdeen, S.D., and he really liked it. So, he may be a fan in the making.

"I can see how people can get excited," he says. "It might be fun to see a Predators game."

Corny crazies flattered by the fun

There is at least one set of Predators fans featured in the maze, the crazy crew of Section 303, who would assuredly show Wise a good time at a game. 

And it wouldn't be a corn maze without them, either. It's one of the personal touches, Ladd says she added to make it really Nashville.

"We’re honored to be part of the design of the Preds' maze," says Mark Hollingsworth, the man who many people call The Warden of Cellblock 303. "The crazies in the Cellblock completely own up to the fact that much of what we do is corny, and we can’t help but stalk the opponents and zebras."

And, because he can't get enough of the corn puns, Hollingsworth adds.

"Here’s hoping our Golden Boys can shuck it right down to the cob this season.”  

Not sure exactly what that means, but the Predators season has officially started. And there's no telling what might sprout this season.

Reach Jessica Bliss at 615-259-8253 and jbliss@tennessean.com. You can also find her on Twitter @jlbliss. 

Experience the Predators maze at Lucky Ladd Farms

Lucky Ladd Farms features nearly 60 acres of family activities, including a petting zoo, pony rides, playgrounds, mega slides, wagon rides and a 70-foot jumping pad. The corn maze is an annual attraction.

When: The maze’s grand opening is Sept. 20, weather permitting. It will be open Wednesday-Sunday through Oct. 29.

Where: 4374 Rocky Glade Road, Eagleville.

Maze challenges: In the Corn Maze Challenge, participants must find hidden markers, using printed maps for directional help. Those who complete the Challenge can enter to win an iPad Mini.

Tickets: $13, adults; $11, kids ages 2-12; free admission for children under 2. Cost includes access to the Nashville Predators corn maze.

More info: luckyladdfarms.com or call 615-274-3786