Crop circles are so 1980.

These days, the formations you're likely to see carved out of local cornfields are much more sophisticated. Like a Chevy Silverado truck, an eagle with outstretched wings, or a couple of NASCAR racers.

Know any aliens who can do that?

This is the time of year when that peculiar form of Midwestern fall fun - the corn maze - makes its mark in farmers' fields. More than a half dozen have sprouted throughout northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan this year.

Their complicated designs just don't happen by chance. At the Riehm Farms Corn Maze between Tiffin and Fremont, the maze design of a farmer's outdoor picnic was a husband and wife collaboration.

"I do it on graph paper and then he goes out when it's only ankle high and counts rows and cuts it out," said co-owner Diane Riehm.

There's a little bit of the Riehms left inside the maze as guests try and pick their way through the labyrinth choose-your-own-adventure-style. Stories based on the Riehms' own experiences give clues as to where visitors should head next.

At least one area corn maze has gone corporate.

The Leaders Fun*Time Farm in Napoleon has teamed up with the Great Lakes Chevy Dealers, offering free tickets for those who test drive a new Chevy car or truck at the dealerships and spawning a 2005 Silverado giveaway. The seven-acre maze itself includes the shape of the truck.

"We were just trying to get bigger and go with somebody well known nationwide," explained Kristin Leaders.

Making the maze, though, is a family affair.

"My husband [Brad] does all the cutting," Leaders said. "We come up with the design and lay it out, and it's cut when the corn is really small."

The first time, nine years ago, it took him two weeks to do it. This time, it was only 1 1/2 days.

"He's got it down to an art now," she said.

Other mazes have designs of more personal significance, even when some of them call in the pros using Global Positioning Systems to help make the mazes reality.

Farmer J's Corn Maze in Dundee always has a wildlife theme - this year, it takes the form of a moose, ram, and elk - because the owner is a hunter and it's located just behind Cabela's.

The Fallen Timbers Community Church Corn Maze between Waterville and Whitehouse features an eagle and a "Pray For Our Troops" theme over 25 acres in honor of the church's senior pastor, the Rev. Jeff Wheeland, who is a chaplain serving in Iraq with the Army Reserve's 983rd Engineer Battalion.

At the McDonnall Greenhouse and Corn Maze in Delta, these kinds of decisions are left up to the kids. This year, that meant a pair of NASCAR cars in honor of 11-year-old Scott McDonnall's appreciation for Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

Of course, drawing up a maze design and cutting it into a corn field is the easy part. Getting out, well, that's another story - even for those who make the mazes.

"I'm not directionally inclined, so I usually get lost anyway," said Leaders.

Contact Ryan E. Smith at: ryansmith@theblade.com or 419-724-6103.

• Corn Maze at Fleitz Pumpkin Farm. 7133 Seaman Rd., Oregon. Sizes: 5-acre maze and 1-acre maze. Hours: Daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Open through Oct. 31. Cost: $2 for 5-acre maze, $1 for 1-acre maze. Design: General maze. Information: 419-836-

7613 or www.fl eitzpumpkinfarm.com.

• Crots Corn Maze. 4800 West Temperance Rd. near Lambertville. Size: 37 acres. Hours: 11 a.m. to dark Saturdays and 1 p.m. to dark Sundays. Open through Nov. 6. Cost: $5.50 adults, $4.50 children ages 5 to 15, and free for kids under 5. Group rates available. Design: Various shapes. Information: 734-856-7183 or www.cornmaze.itgo.com.

• Fallen Timbers Community Church Corn Maze. Corner of Noward Road and State Rt. 64 near Waterville. Size: 25 acres. Hours: 6 to 10 p.m. Fridays, 2 to 10 p.m. Saturdays, and 2 to 7 p.m. Sundays. Open through Oct. 29. Cost: $7, free for kids 6 and under. Group rates available. Design: Pray for Our Troops with an eagle. Information: 419-878-8372 or www.ftcchurch.com.

• Farmer J s Corn Maze. Pherdon Road behind Cabela s in Dundee. Size: 15 acres for three mazes. Hours: 5 to 9 p.m. Fridays, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Open through Oct. 30. Cost: $9.50 adults, $5 children ages 6 to 11, and free for kids 5 and under. Group rates available. Design: The Big Game with a moose, ram, and elk. Information: 734-216-6230 or www.cornmazefun.com.

• Kernel Coopers Corn Maze. 9867 Mendon Rd., Van Wert. Size: 15 acres. Hours: 7 p.m. to midnight Fridays, noon to midnight Saturdays, and 1 to 9 p.m. Sundays. Open through Oct. 30. Cost: $7 adults, $5 children ages 5 to 12, and free for kids 4 and under. Group rates available. Design: Soar With Us with a pair of eagles. Information: 419-968-2536 or www.kernelcoopers.com.

• Leaders Fun*Time Farm. O-064 Henry County Road 16, Napoleon. Size: 7 acres. Hours: 6 to 10 p.m. Fridays, 1 to 10 p.m. Saturdays, 1 to 9 p.m. Sundays. Open through Oct. 30. Cost: $7.50, adults, $5 children ages 5 to 11, free for kids 4 and under. Group rates available. Design: Chevrolet Silverado truck. Information: 419-599-1570 or www.funtimefarm.com.

• McDonnall Greenhouse and Corn Maze. Corner of State Rt. 109 and Fulton County Road J, Delta. Size: 34 acres for three mazes. Hours: 7 to 10 p.m. Fridays, 1 to 10 p.m. Saturdays, and 1 to 7 p.m. Sundays. Open through Oct. 30. Cost: $7 adults, $5 children ages 5 to 12, and free for kids 4 and under. Group rates available.

Design: The Need for Speed with two NASCAR cars. Information: 419-822-9035 after 4 p.m. or www.mazeplay.com.

• Riehm Farms Corn Maze. 7244 North State Rt. 53, between Tiffin and Fremont . Size: 5 acres. Hours for full activities: 4 to 7 p.m. Fridays, noon to 7 p.m. Saturdays, and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays. Just the maze is open weekdays during daylight hours. Open through Oct. 30. Cost: $6, free for kids 2 and under. Group rates available. Design: Farmer s outdoor picnic. Information: 419-992-4392 or www.funacres.net.

First Published October 13, 2005, 12:19 p.m.