A Unique Proposal in the Cornfields
A farmer from Ohio, Tim Sullivan, 23, spent months designing a massive corn maze to create a unique and unforgettable proposal for his girlfriend, Caroline Liggett, 24. The idea came to him in April, and he started planning the surprise with great care.
Earlier this month, Sullivan took Liggett on a helicopter ride over his family’s Circle S Farms in Grove City. As they flew above the farm, she had no idea that a hidden message was waiting below—a carefully crafted design made up of rows of corn. The maze covered 13 acres and spelled out “Will You Marry Me, Caroline?” surrounded by intricate flower patterns and detailed pumpkin designs.
The answer was an easy one—yes. Sullivan shared his feelings with WSYX News, saying, “I wanted to do something big, something she’d never forget.” He described the moment when she realized what it said as something he would never forget.
Sullivan and Liggett, who work at rival agricultural companies, had known for months that they were meant to be together. However, Sullivan struggled with how to ask her to marry him. His desire for a unique proposal led him to choose the annual corn maze at his family’s farm.
A sudden spark of inspiration made him think about using the maze itself to ask the question. “We both really like corn a lot, not to be corny,” Sullivan told NBC News. “I wanted to do something that we would both be able to remember for the rest of our lives.”
By June 3, Sullivan, along with other farmers and consultants, began planting the 13-acre maze using a computerized tractor to ensure the design was perfect. By late July, the message was visible from the sky. However, Sullivan worried that someone might spot the message and ruin the surprise.
“I’ve been super nervous about other planes or helicopters flying over and possibly them seeing it or taking a picture,” he told The Columbus Dispatch. “I felt like every time I opened up my Facebook, I cringed a little bit hoping that the image wouldn’t be there and somebody hadn’t ruined the surprise.”
Fortunately, the secret remained safe. On August 5, with the engagement ring in his pocket, Sullivan borrowed a friend’s small plane and turned his dream into reality. To get Liggett on board, he told a small white lie, claiming he was curious about learning to fly. She joined him, thinking it was just a casual flight over the farm.
However, Liggett missed the message on the first pass, so Sullivan asked the pilot to circle around again. Finally, she spotted the man-made question, which had been growing just for her all summer long.
“I’ve never seen her face light up as much as she did,” Sullivan told NBC. Liggett echoed his excitement, saying, “I was just so shocked.” She added, “I was just like so amazed that somebody put that much effort in planning into a proposal like that.”
After landing, Sullivan got down on one knee and offered a more traditional proposal. “It was definitely one of the coolest experiences that we’ll be able to tell for all time,” he told NBC. In a Facebook post announcing their engagement, he wrote, “I thank God everyday for bringing a best friend and life partner all in one. Last night was unforgettable and a memory we look forward to sharing with all of you!”
Sullivan and Liggett spend a lot of time in cornfields, fitting given that he works at Corteva Agriscience and she at its competitor, WinField United. “It was only fitting that our proposal would happen with the cornfield,” Liggett told The Columbus Dispatch.
With their wedding planned for early summer 2026, the couple’s unforgettable proposal will soon be visible to all when the farm’s fall season begins in September.