In partnership with the Kentucky Maple Syrup Association, UK Forestry and Natural Resources Extension is seeking maple syrup producers interested in participating in the 2022 Kentucky Maple Day. On February 5, 2022 maple syrup producers from across the state are invited to open their sugarhouses and operations for the public to learn about maple sugaring, as well as purchase pure Kentucky maple syrup and treats made with maple syrup.

Participating maple syrup producers will be promoted on the Kentucky Maple Syrup Project website: https://ky-maplesyrup.ca.uky.edu/ky-maple-day.

Interested maple syrup producers should email Billy Thomas at billy.thomas@uky.edu by January 7, 2022 to be included in the promotional efforts.

This fall, the Kentucky Maple Syrup Project delivered several Kentucky maple syrup workshops. The workshops featured some nationally prominent maple syrup researchers and educators. While COVID, forced the events to take place online it did allow us to record and archive the workshops for later viewing. Whether you are just now thinking about getting started or have been making maple syrup for years there is some great educational information for you in one or more of the recordings.

To view the recordings please visit https://ky-maplesyrup.ca.uky.edu/workshops.

We want to extend a BIG congratulations and thanks to those new and returning members of the Kentucky Maple Syrup Project Community-Science Program! These new and returning members are helping to collect valuable maple syrup production data for the purpose of developing recommendations for new and experienced maple syrup producers in Kentucky. Because most of the research regarding maple syrup production comes from northern states and Canada we have surprising little data on maple syrup production in Kentucky. These community-science partners are helping to fill a data gap to help new and current maple syrup producers.

If you are interested in participating in the community-science program of the Kentucky Maple Syrup Project please visit https://ky-maplesyrup.ca.uky.edu/research.

A team of Kentucky 4-H specialists, agents, and others led by 4-H Extension Specialist Ashley Osborne have been working on a Kentucky 4-H Maple Syrup Leaders Guide designed to engage and educate Kentucky youth on maple syrup history, production, and use. While this training is primarily intended for county extension agents, staff, and leaders it is open to the public. The program will take place at three locations on February 10 from 10AM – 4PM Eastern Time. Locations include: Boone County Extension Office, Letcher County Extension Office, and the West Kentucky 4-H Camp.

Extension agents and staff should sign up through KERS and others can register by contacting Ashley Osborne at Ashley.Osborne@uky.edu.

We also wanted to let you know of a couple of other maple syrup educational program opportunities being offered by other states—some are in-person (West Virginia) and some are online (Vermont). The University of Vermont Extension and Vermont Maple Sugar Makers' Association were forced to cancel their 2021 in-person annual maple syrup conference week because of COVID but quickly pivoted to offer online programs. While the conference is already in progress you can still sign-up for live sessions or view recordings from this year’s conference and the 2020 Vermont Maple Conference Week; for more information please visit https://vermontmaple.org/maple-conferences.

If you prefer an in-person event, the West Virginia Maple Syrup Association and Future Generations University are offering a series of “Quality Tapping & Backyard Mapling Workshops” not too far from the eastern Kentucky border; visit https://wvmspa.org/events/ to learn more.

Thanks to our maple syrup friends in Vermont and West Virginia for sharing this information and encouraging the Kentucky maple syrup community to participate!