The Guinness World Record folks have officially recognized the Kraay Family Farm's seven-acre corn maze creation as the world's largest functioning QR code. Guinness has presented an official certificate to the Kraay family for this maze, their lucky 13th annual maze situated at the family's fun farm amusement park near Lacombe, between Calgary and Edmonton. The maze is one of the major agriculture-related attractions, which also include rides and games, at their fun farm.

As reported by Marketnews at the end of July, the family was waiting for the Olympic Games in London to wind-up, so that the Guinness people could then devote some attention to the maze. Seeking to ensure that the bean counters had sufficient evidence of the size and functionality of the QR code in the maze, the Kraays not only flew over it in a helicopter to scan it, but shot a video documenting it.

Reuben Kraay and his father Ed handled most actual construction of the maze. While some times paths through the corn are cut with a Rototiller, this year's complex design was sprayed with an herbicide. The Rototiller played its part this year, however. During the first helicopter flight above the maze the QR code would not scan. "We were a little nervous," conceded Reuben's wife Rachel. But they soon figured out the problem. "We had to Rototill the soil of the paths," she explained to Marketnews, "to get enough contrast. On the second flight, it worked perfectly."

Apparently the documentation, which included photographs and witness statements, was sufficient to satisfy Guinness. Without contacting the Kraays in any manner, Guinness mailed them the certificate, which arrived last week.

"They didn't even call," exclaimed Rachel Kraay. "I just went to the door and there was a large package, and inside was the certificate and a letter."

The certificate from Guinness states that as of July 24, 2012, and 309,570 square feet (28,760 square metres) this was indeed the world's largest QR code. Including the borders and the area with the Kraay Family Farm, the maze in total is far larger than the seven acre QR code section.

The family is planning a party on September 15 to celebrate the award.