A brand new location, along with a new name for the NYS
Maple Conference highlighted the 24th annual event.

Now known as the “Mid-Winter Maple Classic (MWMC)”, the
event took place at the NYS Fairgrounds in Syracuse, NY, and was hosted by the
New York Maple Producers Association, New York FFA Alumni Association, and Cornell
University’s Maple Team.

Keith Schiebel, Maple Conference Coordinator for the past 20
years, was overwhelmed with the huge turnout and success of the event.

“By far, this was the best maple conference ever!” said
Schiebel, reporting record high attendance, with 1,122 conference participants
— an increase of nearly 20 percent over the 2018 conference, and participants
attending from 18 states and Canada, which is the highest number of states ever
represented at the 24-year old event.

During the two-day conference, participants were able to
view 66 maple trade show vendors, displaying the latest in the entire maple
production process, including technologies, trends and techniques.

Educational workshops and demonstrations led by industry
leaders and researchers were available to all attendees, targeting beginners
and hobby producers through advanced producers, with a large variety of topics
including, to name a few, how to tap trees, grading syrup, maple candy
production and other value-added processes, working with reverse osmosis,
vacuum principles, strategies for successful marketing, providing bird-friendly
environments, updates on invasive insects, diseases and IPM management of maple
trees, and even chainsaw safety.

The NYS FFA Alumni assisted with planning and managing the
event and NYS FFA Alumni President Paulette Schiebel said, “The transition of
the maple conference to the State Maple Producers Association in partnership
with the State FFA Alumni Association is a win for everyone because now we can
support all FFA chapters in New York State.”

Paulette said the association plans to use proceeds from the
conference to provide FFA student scholarships and chapter grants.

Schiebel reported that FFA chapters from across New York
State assisted with conference operations, with each school providing at least
10 FFA members to work as guest services, security and food service, and to
assist with set-up and tear down of the maple trade show.

FFA chapters assisting in the event included Delaware
Academy (Tina Miner-James, Advisor), Madison (Paul Perry, Advisor), Marathon
(Crystal Aukema, Advisor), Mount Markham (Eric Bugbee and Katie Lindsey,
Advisors), Northern Adirondack (Karen Gilmore, Advisor), and Otselic Valley
(Roger Barkman, Advisor).

Each chapter received a $500 stipend for their efforts from
the NYS FFA Alumni Association.

“Our students who worked at the Mid-Winter Maple Classic
learned about the growing agriculture opportunities in maple production and
processing, but also learned customer service, event planning, and a host of
other transferable skills,” commented Madison FFA Advisor Paul Perry. “The
ability to earn as you learn fully embraces the FFA motto for our members.”

Helen Thomas, Executive Director of NY Maple, said, “We are
thrilled with the new location! Everyone has more space and the comments we’ve
been getting from both the vendors and the attendees are all positive!”

Thomas reports that membership in the NY Maple Association
has grown steadily over the past 10 years. “We’re now at about 750 members.”
Thomas said there has been over 350 percent growth in New York State.

Thomas said a few members are from outside of New York
State. “We welcome everyone!”

The NYS Maple Conference, which began with about 200 people,
is the largest maple event in the United States and is forecast to increase in
size for next year’s event, with planning already underway.

“The opportunities for the Maple Classic seem endless,” said
Schiebel, “just like the New York maple industry. The State Fair is a
tremendous facility to host our event and the support staff and Fair officials
are wonderful!”

NY Maple Producers Association Vice President Greg Zimpfer
summed up the event with his statement, “The biggest and best maple conference
in the United States just got even bigger and better!”