Field of Corn, Dublin, OH

Don and I annually try to travel to Ohio to see family and friends. This year, we added Betsey and John to the list. I was hoping they had time to meet up with us for lunch while my cousins and aunt were teaching, instead they cleared their entire afternoon for us.

Betsey, John, Don, and I met in Uluru, Australia. Betsey was sporting a cane and Don was on crutches following bursting blood vessels in his leg when he ran in to a bench the night before. Don and Betsey bonded over walking slowly and not being able to do as much as they had hoped. Over the rest of that leg we kept bumping into each other. We found the conversations lively. Betsey and I bonded over the dismal election results and our fears for our nation.

We found kindred spirits on the other side of the globe.

When we learned they live in Columbus, OH we promised to connect the next time we were in town. I suspect they thought that was a hollow "we'll get together," the kind I've learned over five decades rarely happens.

Our friendship grew online. When we realized Don had a rare four days off in a row, we rented a car and drove out to Ohio. The plan was to see as many friends and family as possible in 56 hours before driving home again.

We were successful. We stayed with Debra and Tom, had pizza night with Laura, Matt, Allie, Doug, their children, and David. Met up with Heidi for dinner and ice cream in German Village. I was impressed we could fit into really busy schedules with minimal notice. Thank you, all!

Betsey had lots of good suggestions for us, ways to show off her city. Ones we assured her were good, but we had already done over the years. Then I mentioned the giant ears of corn in Dublin. I could see her smiling as she typed back we could do that.

The statues are called Field of Corn. The 109 statues of ears of corn are each 6'3"
tall. They are literally located in an office complex on a busy intersection. In a slightly quieter place, I could picture preschoolers having a giant game of hide and seek with them. Watching traffic, as a teacher I'd be terrified one would wander out of the area and get hit by a car.

According to the website cited above, there are three different molds, but they are rotated in order to make it harder to find the matches. Each one weighs 1500 pounds and are made out of "white architectural precast concrete." Columbus artist Malcolm Cochran designed them as an homage to the "history of the farming legacy and memorial to the farming landscape."

We spent more time trying to figure out how to take pictures to represent the vastness of the field without cars in the background, only the Osage trees, which used to cover the entire area, but are now just a few in a row.

The sculpture has received the Columbus Monthly's "Best of Columbus Honors" since 2008, including the top spot four times.

Just around the corner from this field are three giant rabbits on top of a hill. Due to a construction project, we had to take the long way, which took us through a neighborhood. In the summer these rabbits overlook a water park. We went on a school day and had the rabbits to ourselves.

At 24 feet each, the Ballanetrae Giant Dancing Hares are four times taller than the corn statues. I love the pictures on the website which captures them at sunrise and sunset. Our pictures are not nearly as dramatic on that perfect midday.

The statues were commissioned in 2001 by British artist Sophie Ryder.

Approaching the statues I was first met with their enormity. Crafted from metal pipes, as you near them you realize each one is a treasure hut. Play "I Spy" as you ask children to find the coins, wrenches, comb, and other household items, or turn it into a scavenger hunt. It was fun having them to ourselves, but I suspect it is even more fun watching children interact with them dancing along while hunting for treasures.

On our drive to Dublin we passed Hayden Falls. As Don and I had just learned about this site at the I-70 Columbus rest stop we asked Betsey if we could stop. She said it has not been raining lately, so there is a chance we won't actually see the waterfall, but we could walk down the steps and look. 

She was right -- no water, but there was another group there who was willing the take the group picture we did not take when we first met in 2024.

Thank you to Betsey and John for a fun day in Central Ohio. Until next year.