Indiana Farm Faces Backlash for Charlie Kirk Tribute in Corn Maze

An Indiana farm ignited controversy by dedicating a corn maze to Charlie Kirk, resulting in significant community backlash. Goebel Farms in Evansville explained to KWTX that the tribute honored Kirk’s advocacy for free speech. Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, tragically died from a gunshot at a TPUSA event at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025.

Following the theme announcement, the farm was inundated with negative reviews on Google, prompting Goebel Farms to remove its Google business listing, as noted by a local Evansville Reddit post.

According to 14News, the farm issued a statement acknowledging that Kirk was a polarizing figure. It emphasized that their goal was to encourage civil discourse rather than division. Kirk was killed during his “American Comeback Tour” in Utah.

“Our intention was not to suggest that everyone should share Charlie’s beliefs or agree with every statement he made,” the statement said. “We recognize that he was a polarizing public figure and that many people strongly disagreed with his views and methods. Charlie was killed while publicly expressing and debating his convictions. In a country founded on the principles of free speech, no person should lose his or her life for participating in political discussion. People are free to challenge ideas, criticize them, and reject them, but violence must never become the response to speech.”

The statement further highlighted the farm’s hope to foster open communication without hostility, stressing the importance of discussing and listening even amid disagreements. It also noted the farm’s position as a family business, not a political entity.

Tyler Robinson, 23, faces charges including aggravated murder and obstruction of justice in connection with Kirk’s death. A Utah judge recently determined there’s sufficient evidence to proceed with the trial on all seven charges.