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on Thursday, January 15, 2026
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Ag-Pro Companies News
LONDON, Ohio — What started as a family corn maze became the backdrop for one of the country’s most unique proposals.
Ohio farmer Tim Sullivan proposed to his now fiancée this summer after months of preparation. With help from friends, family and local Ag-Pro employees, Sullivan was able to transform his family’s corn maze into a proposal large enough to see from the sky.
“We used to mow our corn maze with a zero-turn,” Sullivan said. “I was sitting on the zero-turn mowing our front yard one day, thinking, ‘How am I going to do the corn maze this year? What are we going to do?’ Around that same time, I was also thinking about how I really wanted to propose to my girlfriend.”
As planting season approached, Sullivan partnered with Ag-Pro’s Jenna Elleman, an integrated solutions specialist, and Jonathan Francis, a sales representative and integrated solutions specialist. Elleman’s sister, who works at Integrated Ag Services, and her team also played a key role in bringing the idea to life.
The group created a digital design of the proposal and sent it to Ag-Pro as a boundary file. From there, the Ag-Pro team uploaded the file into the John Deere Operations Center and, using JDLink technology, wirelessly sent it directly to the planter in the field.
Once the file reached the planter, the team used the power of Section Control to execute the design with precision. With an ExactEmerge™ planter, each row can be controlled individually, allowing the machine to plant or stop planting on a row-by-row basis.
To form the letters in the field, the designated boundary area was left blank while the rest of the field was planted as normal, essentially "drawing" the design through precise seed placement.
“This was a really cool project and very exciting to be a part of,” Elleman said. “It goes to show the true power of what the technology can do and all of its different capabilities. It’s a great example of how we can take the technology we implement with our customers every day to the next level for something fun.”
Francis said that while he had confidence in the technology, the process was still nerve-racking.
“We all came together and developed a plan. Tim and I planted it, and it couldn’t have gone better,” Francis said. “I’ve set up and supported this technology for years, so I had a lot of confidence, but it was still nerve-racking until we saw strong emergence and could confirm the accuracy of our plant placement.”
Beyond the proposal itself, Sullivan’s family farm, Circle S Farms, has long trusted Ag-Pro for their agricultural needs. The family uses John Deere equipment throughout the farming season and relies on Ag-Pro for sales, service and support.
A John Deere tractor and planter are shown in the field at Circle S Farms, where the Sullivan family relies on Ag-Pro for equipment, service and support throughout the growing season. (Photo courtesy of Circle S Farms)
“The team at Ag-Pro was an integral part in making our proposal literally come to life,” Sullivan said. “Jenna worked hard to ensure the prescription had pinpoint accuracy down to the inch of each letter. Jonathan planted the maze using an 8R John Deere tractor and a 1770NT planter equipped with variable-rate technology to create the design.”
The corn field holds special meaning for Sullivan and his fiancée, Caroline. Both work in agriculture, specifically in the corn and soybean market, making the proposal a fitting reflection of their shared passion.
“We both have a passion for the agricultural industry and hope our story educates the public more about how their food is grown,” said Sullivan.
Image that features the message “Will you marry me, Caroline?” formed into the corn maze at Circle S Farms. The large-scale proposal design was created months ahead of the surprise engagement. (Photo courtesy of Circle S Farms)
This proposal is more than just a memorable moment, it is a testament to what’s possible when modern technology and a passion for agriculture come together. With the support of Ag-Pro, a family tradition was transformed into one of the country’s most impressive and well planned proposals.
Sullivan and his fiancée, Caroline, are set to be married on May 30, 2026. The Ag-Pro team is honored to have played a small role in their story and wishes the couple a lifetime filled with love, joy and many happy seasons ahead.
Image showing Sullivan proposing to his now fiancée beside the plane they used to view the maze from the sky. (Photo courtesy of Tim Sullivan)