Photo: Derek Kaufman
(Oelwein, IA) -- A northeast Iowa corn maze pays tribute to a father and son who died last year. Andy Kaufman and his 9-year-old son Beckett died in a barn collapse in Dike in July of 2021. Farmer Derek Kaufman, Andy's brother and Beckett's uncle, says there was a tremendous outpouring of support, with up to 1,700 people attending a visitation to extend condolences to Andy's surviving wife, four children, and extended family.
Kaufman says the family came up with a baseball themed "Kaufman Strong" memorial tribute sticker, for their vehicles, and that design was the basis for this year's tribute in corn. Kaufman says his planter has the technology, so he did the planting for Red Rock Farms near Oelwein, which hosts a number of fall activities, including a corn maze.
"It was a cool maze to plant, but was one of the more emotional, difficult things I've ever done," said Derek Kaufman.
This is opening weekend for Red Rock Farms, which is located at 20856 30th Street, west of Oelwein.