Above: American Idol finalist and East Brunswick native Jackie ‘Jax’ Miskanic (right) is interviewed by Greater Media’s Magic 98.3’s Joel Katz at VonThun Farms in Monmouth Junction on Sept. 15. Below: The farm used the local singer as the theme for this year’s corn maze. PHOTOS BY STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER ERIC SUCAR In the middle of a cornfield in Monmouth Junction, Jax does what she has dedicated her life to – playing music.
Fresh off her nationwide tour with the rest of the “American Idol” cast, the East Brunswick resident came back home and visited Von Thun Farms, which each year draws huge crowds to its corn maze in Monmouth Junction.
Jax has a special interest in the field this year since the corn maze is carved out in her image.
Jax took her place at a piano, seated on a bale of hay at the farm on Sept. 15 at a private event, with a few young fans used to watching her on their TV screens looking on awe struck.
Jax sings a song for Samantha Nyitrai, 9, and Thomas Nyitrai, 5, at VonThun Farms. In that moment the glitz and glamour of the “Idol” stage and droves of adoring fans seemed a world away.
“All of this kind of stuff, I just don’t know how to get used to it,” said Jax.
“Maybe I’ll get there one day, but it’s really strange going into Wawa and not being able to get like Doritos without people trying to take selfies. I mean, I love it. I appreciate being appreciated.”
At Von Thun Farms, the American Idol finalist is honored in the “corniest” way possible.
This year Jax’s face has been carved into Von Thun’s cornfield, creating a maze that visitors will have the opportunity to navigate.
“I grew up in East Brunswick and it was very personal seeing her on TV,” said Cindy Von Thun about watching Jax on American Idol.
“Considering the number of employees that we have that are Jax fans, and the fact that Jax’s family lives just a few miles from the farms in East Brunswick, we thought that was the perfect fit for our fall corn maze theme,” said Bob Von Thun in a press release.
For Jax, this is the sort of honor that she still is not accustomed to receiving.
“It’s so surreal. I don’t know anybody who has gone through a corn maze of their face. I tried to go through it myself and wouldn’t have imagined I would get lost in my own face,” said Jax.
In previous years, the farm themed the maze in honor of local firefighters and last year the maze was a representation of the superstar New York Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter., who retired after the 2014 season.
An irony not lost on Jax, who has a dog named Jeter.
Jax’s lighthearted nature was on display as she treated media and some of her young fans to a medley of songs she performed during her “Idol” journey.
She kicked off the day singing “I Want To Hold Your Hand” by The Beatles, a song she sang at her audition for the popular program at the start of the 14th season.
She followed with a lighthearted McDonald’s themed rap with her brother.
Jax also played with some of her younger fans who relished the opportunity to perform with their Idol. “It was awesome. I love her,” said Faith Minozzi.
For Jax, having a following is as much of a responsibility as it is an honor. “It’s a lot of new power. I feel like my words have weight now, like people really do listen to what I’m saying. That’s new for me because they really do care about it and I could really slip up now and all of a sudden everybody takes it seriously and you feel that you’re not being a good role model,” said Jax, still adjusting to the new position as a role model.
“I think the best I could do to influence other kids to do the right thing is to be myself. I’m young, I’m stupid, I make mistakes, but at the end of the day it’s really just being a good person and I hope that really reflects on stage.”
Jax’s father, John Miskanic, who accompanied her to the event, attributes his daughter’s fame to working hard to build her singing career. “There’s a sense of pride. The fact that she is able to touch people without touching them, to me and to her that’s priceless,” said Miskanic.
The Idol finalist echoed the sentiment.
“I do music because music is the universal language and it helps people,” she said, ‘it heals people and it brings the world together”.
That maze at Von Thun Farms, located at 519 Ridge Road in Monmouth Junction, opened to visitors on Sept. 19 and is expected to be open until Nov. 1.