TESTIMONIAL

The Maldonado’s have been very successful in attracting people from the different rural communities of Southern New Mexico, Las Cruces, El Paso and even Juarez, Mexico. They market to people of all ages, farmers and non-farmers, schools and all those that are interested in having fun and that are interested in how farming has impacted our re- gion over time. The Maldonado’s wish to continue their farming legacy by creating this yearly event for the people but in order to maintain their business and expand it to new limits the Maldonado’s came to Tierra del Sol for assistance. The Maldonado’s were ready to expand their business by adding all these events and new features to it but they needed the capital to do it. The Maldonado’s heard that Tierra del Sol could make this possible with their RBEG loan to small businesses. The Maldonado’s decided to apply for the RBEG loan through Tierra del Sol and was successfully approved for its loan. The Maldonado’s were lent a total amount of $35,000 to finance their corn maze operations. The Maldonado’s were able to apply these funds to the creation of their new activities which in turn allowed them to hire additional staff to oversee these activities. The Maldonado’s were not only providing additional entertainment to their corn maze but were also creating job opportunities for the people of the communities. They were also able to buy additional vending booths and other necessary equipment that would facilitate their corn maze operations. Tierra del Sol is proud to be able to assist and make a difference for the small businesses of our rural communities. The Maldonado Maze is a great example of the success that Tierra del Sol has with its genuine programs and also the assistance of the USDA-Rural Development with granting Tierra del Sol these RBEG funds to provide to the small business of our rural communities. Tierra del Sol is here to assist other small rural businesses with the opportunities they need to be successful as the Maldonado Maze has proven. Tierra del Sol would like to assist other small existing or expanding businesses to follow in the footsteps of the Maldonado legacy and their Maldonado Maze.

This maze would provide a part of their land to the people. They wanted to share their farming legacy with the people around them. With the corn maze the Maldonado’s would share the joy and the rewards of the lands that they have worked on very hard for generations.

The Maldonado Maze was established in the fall of 2009. The maze is open to the public during the fall when the corn season is in its prime. The Maldonado’s have been cre- ative with their business and have created different attractions for the public. They have allocated 14 acres of their farm property to the creation of the corn maze. The public can enter a gauntlet of passages that the corn maze offers to all those that take on the challenge of finding their way out. The maze also offers hayrides where the public can ride around the farm premises in an old fashioned wagon with seats made out of hay bales and pulled by horses. They also have rides and jumping balloons for the kids. The Maldonado’s have also included educational activities and crafts for the public to teach them the importance of farming and how farming impacts everyone’s lives. They have included workshops on how to plant fresh produce such as chile, pumpkins, Mexican squash and cucumbers and on the production of cotton. The Maldonado’s also have food