This strange field of 109 eight foot tall concrete ears of corn is one of the landmarks in Dublin, Ohio, my neck of the woods. It was created in 1994 as a tribute to our agricultural heritage, and also a memorial to Sam Frantz, who farmed this site from 1935 to 1963. Frantz was well-known for his hybridization of corn seeds and worked with the Ohio State University on hybridization projects.
The artist brought in by the Dublin Arts Council for this project was Malcolm Cochran, who created three different molds to fashion the larger-than-life-sized concrete ears.
The field of giant corn is somewhat of a local joke, often referred to as "Cornhenge". Personally, I like it best in the winter, in lovely monochrome against the snow. As much as I love art, I can't say our tax dollars spent on inedible corn were used wisely. We are, however, included in the quirky and eccentric American landmarks at Roadside America.
