The 1979 Olsen Farm UFO Landing: Minnesota's Mysterious Crop Circles and MIB Encounter
In September 1979, an extraordinary incident occurred on Curtis Olsen's farm in West Albany Township near Lake City. While mowing hay, the 26-year-old farmer discovered peculiar damage in his cornfield—a circle approximately 50 feet in diameter with flattened stalks radiating from the center. The middle of the circle contained bare ground and charred corn stalks, as if something had descended from above. A second, smaller circle about 18 feet away showed similar patterns but less intense damage, with paths connecting the two formations.
The mystery deepened when Olsen found corn ears with husks peeled back and silks removed, appearing too clean and precise to be caused by natural phenomena like lightning. Adding to the puzzle, Olsen discovered unusual footprints along the pathways between circles—not matching any human or animal prints typically found on his property. While Wabasha County Sheriff Robert Laer investigated and suggested possible natural explanations, Olsen remained convinced that something extraordinary had visited his farm, noting that as a respected community member, he had no reason to fabricate such an event.
Key Takeaways
Mysterious circular patterns with flattened and charred corn stalks were discovered in Curtis Olsen's field in September 1979.
Unusual evidence included precisely peeled corn ears and strange footprints along pathways connecting two circular formations.
Local authorities investigated but could not provide a conclusive explanation for the peculiar damage in the cornfield.
Unusual Phenomena in Curtis Olsen's Field
In September 1979, West Albany Township farmer Curtis Olsen discovered something extraordinary in his corn field near Lake City. While mowing hay, he noticed damaged corn stalks in a peculiar pattern that defied conventional explanation.
Upon closer inspection, Olsen found a circular formation approximately 50 feet in diameter with flattened stalks radiating from the center. At the circle's core, bare ground and charred corn stalks suggested intense heat had been applied. "The corn looks like when you take a hair dryer and it blows all the hair from the center," Olsen explained to a Minnesota Post Bulletin reporter.
A second, smaller circle about 30 feet in diameter was discovered approximately 18 feet away from the first. This formation showed less damage, with no charred areas. Between these two circles, distinct pathways were visible where it appeared something or someone had walked repeatedly.
One of the most puzzling aspects was the corn itself. Many ears had been precisely peeled back with their silks removed while leaving the kernels untouched. This meticulous manipulation couldn't be explained by natural phenomena like lightning or wind.
Olsen also discovered what appeared to be a footprint along the pathway between circles. The unusual print featured a narrow heel (approximately 1-2 inches across) with toe marks spanning about 6 inches. The impression suggested a barefoot walker with a non-human foot structure.
Wabasha County Sheriff Robert Laer investigated but could offer no explanation. He noted that typical engines would have produced more extensive charring than what was observed. The sheriff initially deferred to an extension agent for further analysis.
Olsen firmly rejected suggestions of a hoax, stating he lacked both time and motivation to fabricate such an elaborate scene. As a respected community member, he understood the social consequences of perpetrating such a deception.
The 26-year-old farmer remained open to the possibility of extraterrestrial visitors, though he couldn't explain why they would choose his property. A neighbor suggested Olsen's friendly reputation might have made his farm an approachable landing site.
Investigation by Curtis Olsen
Curtis Olsen, a 26-year-old farmer from West Albany Township, discovered something unusual while mowing hay on his Lake City property on September 16, 1979. He noticed damaged corn stalks in a nearby field, initially suspecting animal activity.
Upon closer inspection, Olsen found a perfectly formed circle approximately 50 feet in diameter where corn stalks were flattened in a radiating pattern. The center featured bare ground and charred stalks. As Olsen described it, the corn appeared as if a hair dryer had blown it outward from the center.
A second smaller circle, about 30 feet in diameter, was located just 18 feet away from the first. This circle showed less damage, with no charred or bare areas. Between the two circles, clear pathways suggested someone or something had walked back and forth.
Unusual Evidence:
Circles of flattened corn (50ft and 30ft diameter)
Charred stalks in larger circle
Connecting pathways between circles
Corn ears peeled back with silks removed
Strange footprint unlike human or farm animal
The most puzzling discovery was corn ears that had been peeled back with their silks neatly removed while leaving kernels untouched. Olsen stated this could not have been lightning damage due to the clean appearance of the affected ears.
Wabasha County Sheriff Robert Laer investigated but found the incident "unexplainable." While suggesting lightning can do "funny things," he noted that combustion or nuclear engines would have caused more extensive charring than what was evident in the field.
Olsen discovered what appeared to be a footprint along the pathway between the circles. The unusual print had a narrow heel (1/2 to 2 inches across) with toes measuring about 6 inches across. It resembled a barefoot print but didn't match any human or animal footprint Olsen recognized.
Sheriff Laer downplayed the footprint, suggesting it had been made a week before the corn damage, though he didn't explain how he determined this timing without testing.
As a lifelong farmer, Olsen maintained he had never encountered anything similar and emphatically denied creating a hoax. He acknowledged his openness to the possibility of extraterrestrial visitation, though he couldn't explain why his farm might have been selected.
Investigation by Wabasha County Sheriff's Department
The Wabasha County Sheriff's Department became involved when farmer Curtis Olsen discovered unusual damage in his cornfield on September 16, 1979. Sheriff Robert Laer personally visited the Lake City property to examine the peculiar circular formations that had appeared in Olsen's field.
Upon inspection, Sheriff Laer found two distinct circles—one approximately 50 feet in diameter with charred stalks and bare ground at its center, and a smaller 30-foot circle nearby. Between these formations were clear pathways where it appeared something or someone had moved back and forth.
The Sheriff noted that while lightning can cause unusual damage, he questioned whether it would create the specific patterns observed. He particularly doubted if a lightning strike could explain the carefully peeled corn ears with removed silks that Olsen had discovered throughout the affected area.
When confronted with what Olsen described as unusual footprints along the path between circles, Sheriff Laer downplayed their significance. He suggested to reporter Uleita Freemark that these marks had likely been made about a week before the corn damage occurred, though he offered no scientific basis for this conclusion.
Sheriff Laer made it clear he would not contact UFO investigators until after consulting with a county extension agent. He believed a professional agricultural assessment might provide a conventional explanation for the damage. The Sheriff specifically noted that nuclear or combustion engines would typically cause more extensive charring than what was evident in Olsen's field.
Despite his investigation, Sheriff Laer ultimately classified the incident as "unexplainable" in his official report. This designation left the door open for continued speculation about what exactly occurred on the Olsen farm that September.
Theories and Explanations
Aircraft Landing Assessment
Several possibilities exist for what may have created the mysterious circles in Curtis Olsen's cornfield in September 1979. The landing pattern suggests a vehicle touched down with significant force, creating a 50-foot diameter circle with flattened corn radiating outward from the center. The second, smaller 30-foot circle located 18 feet away from the primary site contained less damage and no charring, potentially indicating a secondary landing with less heat or pressure. The pathway between circles, where something or someone appeared to travel back and forth, contained unusual footprints that didn't match conventional human or animal tracks. The footprint described had a narrow heel (1/2 to 2 inches across) with much wider toe area (approximately 6 inches), suggesting an unusual foot structure unlike typical farm visitors.
Local authorities, including Sheriff Robert Laer, speculated that conventional aircraft might explain the phenomenon. However, the sheriff noted that typical combustion or nuclear engines would have caused significantly more charring than what was observed in the field. The precise damage pattern and relatively limited burning doesn't align well with known helicopter or aircraft landing signatures.
Extraterrestrial Possibilities
The unusual nature of the cornfield damage and accompanying evidence led some, including Olsen himself, to consider non-terrestrial explanations. The farmer acknowledged being open-minded about the possibility of advanced extraterrestrial visitors. Several factors contributed to this speculation:
Unusual corn manipulation: Ears of corn found with husks precisely peeled back and silks removed while kernels remained untouched
Clean damage patterns: The affected area showed signs of organized, intentional manipulation rather than random damage
Strange footprints: The barefoot-like impressions had anatomical proportions inconsistent with human feet
Dual landing sites: The presence of two circular areas connected by a pathway suggests coordinated activity
Olsen dismissed the possibility of creating a hoax himself, noting that as a respected community member, fabricating such evidence would have caused lasting embarrassment. A neighbor validated Olsen's character, suggesting extraterrestrials might have chosen his property specifically because of his friendly, approachable nature.
Natural Causes Analysis
Sheriff Laer initially suggested lightning as a potential natural explanation for the damage, stating that "lightning does funny things at funny times." However, this theory fails to account for several key observations:
The clean peeling of corn husks without damage to kernels
The organized pattern of the circles and connecting pathway
The presence of unusual footprints between landing sites
The limited and controlled nature of the charring
The Sheriff requested an extension agent examine the field before reporting the incident to UFO investigators, hoping for a conventional agricultural explanation. While natural phenomena like weather events or animal activity were considered, none adequately explained the combination of evidence found at the scene. The precise nature of the damage, particularly the selectively peeled corn ears with silks removed but kernels untouched, defied conventional natural explanations.
Physical Findings
Corn Damage Patterns
In September 1979, farmer Curtis Olsen discovered unusual damage in his cornfield near Lake City. The damage formed a distinctive circular pattern approximately 50 feet in diameter, with corn stalks flattened in a radial pattern extending from the center. At the circle's core, some corn was completely missing, leaving bare ground and charred stalks. Olsen described the pattern as resembling the effect of a hair dryer blowing outward from the center.
A second, smaller circle was found about 18 feet away from the first. This circle measured approximately 30 feet in diameter but showed less intense damage with no charred or bare areas. Between these two circles, pathways were visible, suggesting movement back and forth between the locations.
Perhaps most puzzling was the condition of certain corn ears in the affected area. Some ears had been peeled back with their silks removed, yet the corn kernels inside remained untouched. This peculiar detail couldn't be explained by lightning or natural phenomena, as the peeling appeared too precise and clean.
Potential Footprint Discovery
Along the pathway connecting the two circular patterns, Olsen identified what appeared to be a footprint. The print had unusual proportions - a heel measuring approximately 1/2 to 2 inches across and toes spanning about 6 inches wide.
The impression did not match any conventional footwear but instead resembled a barefoot print. However, Olsen noted that the foot structure didn't appear human in origin. The print didn't match any farm animals or local wildlife known to inhabit his property.
When Sheriff Robert Laer investigated, he acknowledged seeing "some kind of mark" in the soil but suggested it might have been made prior to the corn damage. The sheriff provided no evidence for this timeline assessment. Tracking additional prints proved difficult as movement across the flattened corn obscured most of the potential evidence.
Community Response and Skepticism
The local community had mixed reactions to the September 1979 incident on Curtis Olsen's farm. As a 26-year-old farmer and family man with a solid reputation in West Albany Township, Olsen's credibility was generally not questioned. A neighbor specifically mentioned that whoever or whatever created the circles likely chose Olsen's property because of his friendly nature.
Wabasha County Sheriff Robert Laer took a more cautious approach. While investigating the scene, he acknowledged the unusual nature of the damage but suggested natural explanations. "Lightning does funny things at funny times," he told a Minnesota Post Bulletin reporter. The Sheriff seemed reluctant to pursue UFO theories, preferring to wait for an extension agent's assessment before taking further action.
Sheriff Laer particularly downplayed the unusual "footprint" Olsen discovered. Despite Olsen's description of a barefoot print with a narrow heel and wide toes unlike any human or animal on his farm, the Sheriff dismissed it as "some kind of mark" likely made before the corn damage occurred.
Olsen himself maintained he had neither time nor motivation to create a hoax. "I'd have to hang my head for the rest of my life," he explained, understanding the social consequences such deception would bring in a small farming community. He remained convinced something extraordinary had occurred, stating, "I myself believe we've been visited."
The peculiar evidence at the site contributed to the ongoing debate:
Two circular formations (one 50 feet, one 30 feet in diameter)
Corn stalks flattened in a radiating pattern
Charred stalks in the center of the larger circle
Exposed bare ground at the center
Pathway connecting the two circles
Corn ears peeled back with silks removed
Unusual footprint along the pathway
The Sheriff noted that conventional aircraft engines would have caused more extensive burning than what was observed. This technical detail left the incident in a gray area between easily explained natural phenomena and something truly unexplainable.
Similar unexplained encounters have occurred elsewhere. In 1969, near the border of South Australia, Mrs. Lucas observed two figures in immaculate black outfits crossing a remote road near midnight. The individuals emerged from dense brush yet showed no signs of dirt or damage to their clothing, creating another instance where conventional explanations seemed insufficient.
Ultimately, Olsen's case remained officially "unexplainable" according to the Wabasha County Sheriff's Department, leaving the community to form their own conclusions about what occurred in that cornfield.
Curtis Olsen's Perspective on Extraterrestrial Life
In September 1979, Curtis Olsen encountered something extraordinary on his Lake City farm that challenged his understanding of our universe. While mowing hay, he discovered damaged corn stalks in a nearby field forming a distinct circular pattern approximately 50 feet in diameter.
The evidence Olsen found was compelling. Corn stalks were flattened in a radiating pattern, with some completely charred or missing at the center. "The corn looks like when you take a hair dryer and it blows all the hair from the center," he explained to a Minnesota Post Bulletin reporter.
A second, smaller circle about 30 feet in diameter was located 18 feet from the first, connected by clear pathways. Olsen observed that "along the paths between the circles, it appears people or somebody walked around." The most perplexing aspect was finding corn ears with husks peeled back and silks removed with surgical precision.
Unusual Evidence:
Two circular formations in cornfield
Charred stalks at center of larger circle
Pathways connecting both circles
Corn ears precisely peeled back
Strange footprints unlike any known animal
Perhaps most startling was the discovery of unusual footprints along the pathway between circles. The prints featured a narrow heel (1/2 to 2 inches across) with toes spreading about 6 inches wide. The footprints appeared barefoot but with a structure distinctly non-human.
The Wabasha County Sheriff investigated but couldn't explain the phenomenon. Sheriff Laer suggested lightning might be responsible, though this explanation failed to account for the precisely peeled corn ears and the strange footprints.
Olsen firmly rejected any notion that he fabricated the incident. "I'd have to hang my head for the rest of my life," he stated, emphasizing that no farmer would risk such community ridicule. Having farmed all his life, he had never witnessed anything comparable to this incident.
"I myself believe we've been visited," Olsen concluded. While he remained uncertain why extraterrestrial visitors would choose his farm, he maintained that advanced intelligent life from elsewhere in the universe was the most logical explanation for what he witnessed.
Corroboration from Neighbors
Several witnesses have provided accounts supporting unusual occurrences in the field. According to a neighboring farmer who spoke with investigators, Curtis Olsen was selected as a landing site precisely because of his friendly reputation in the community. This neighbor stated that whoever or whatever visited would have likely chosen Olsen's property knowing he would have been approachable rather than hostile.
The neighbor specifically mentioned that had Olsen encountered the visitors, he "would have probably gone out and chatted with them." When questioned about this possibility, Olsen himself confirmed this assessment of his character, acknowledging he would indeed have approached any visitors with curiosity rather than fear.
In another supporting incident from a different location, a married couple driving between Bordertown and Keith encountered strange figures crossing a remote road around midnight. Mrs. Lucas observed two individuals in immaculate black outfits similar to overalls emerging from dense mulga bushes approximately 200 feet ahead of their vehicle.
The figures walked slowly across the road, seemingly oblivious to the approaching car. Most strikingly, Mrs. Lucas reported that the men "disappeared into the air" after crossing. When she stopped the vehicle and woke her husband, they noted several inexplicable aspects of the encounter:
The men wore pristine black clothing with no signs of dirt or damage despite emerging from dense bushes
There were no footprints or disturbances visible on the roadway
The location was approximately 15 miles from the nearest town
The figures showed no awareness of the approaching vehicle
These independent witness accounts from different locations reinforce the possibility that unusual visitors have been present in rural areas, approaching properties and observing or interacting with local environments.
Historical Background
The UFO phenomenon gained significant attention during the late 1960s and 1970s, with numerous sightings reported across rural areas of Australia and the United States. These encounters often shared distinctive patterns, including unusual craft movements, environmental disturbances, and mysterious figures observed near landing sites. Farmers and rural residents became unexpected witnesses to phenomena that challenged conventional explanations.
The Luks' Roadway Encounter in 1969
On April 1, 1969, a married couple experienced a bizarre midnight encounter while driving between Bordertown and Keith in rural South Australia. Mrs. Luks was driving while her husband slept in the passenger seat. As they traveled at about 45 mph along the isolated road, she noticed two figures approximately 200 feet ahead.
The figures emerged from dense mulga bush that lined the roadway. These mysterious individuals walked slowly across the road, displaying unusual behavior. They:
Appeared completely oblivious to the approaching car
Never looked in either direction despite the vehicle's approach
Were dressed in immaculate black outfits resembling overalls
Showed no signs of dirt or damage to their clothing despite emerging from dense brush
Seemingly "disappeared into the air" after crossing
Mrs. Luks slowed the vehicle and stopped, waking her husband to share what she had witnessed. The location was particularly isolated - approximately 15 miles from the nearest town in either direction. What made the encounter particularly strange was that anyone emerging from the dense mulga bush should have shown signs of the difficult passage through the vegetation. Yet these figures appeared pristine and unaffected.
