The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
FFA posts banner year for maple
VERONA, N.Y. >> The Vernon-Verona-Sherrill FFA wrapped up their season of maple syrup production on April 11 — boiling a total of 104,125 gallons of sap throughout the season.
This is up around 30,000 gallons of sap last year. The high sap intake allowed the organization to produce just under 2,000 gallons of maple syrup. The VVS FFA managed to break all previous records on sap intake this year thanks to a complete reconstruction of the sugarbush sap lines.
VVS FFA officials said community partnerships were key to this year’s success. With the help of VVS FFA alumnus and volunteer Brian Schieferstine, the students did a full reconstruction of the sugarbush/woodlot, removing all previous tubing and installing brand new lines. During the renovation process, they also added more main lines. In total, 750 taps were utilized throughout the entire woodlot.
In February, Abe Arak of AA Vineyards from Fredonia came to help the VVS FFA with their willow harvest. Thewillowchips allow the students to run their evaporator in the most efficient way possible. This year it took them just five hours to harvest the willow. The willow harvest is expected to last themabout two full years.
VVS alumni and community members were also instrumental in the growth of maple production. Schieferstine volunteered his time as woodlot manager, overseeing the woodlot renovation which increased the sap yield and helped break previous records. The FFA also bought sap from VVS FFAalumni Josh Schieferstine and Neil Collins, which allowed them to make even more of the sweet maple syrup for sale. Neil Collins and other VVS FFA alumni helped students working in the sap house get things done quickly and in the most efficient way possible, often boiling sap late into the evening. The organization would like to thank everyone who volunteered their time and talents in this effort.
“This year I was able to take more control of the sap house and help to run it, so I’m proud to say that this year was a record-breaking year in many ways,” said VVS FFA Secretary Rachel Champney.
“This year is my first year since being in the Junior FFA that I participated in the High School VVS FFA Program, so I’m glad that I got to spend it learning and working in the sap house and sugarbush,” said VVS FFA member Peter Makarchuk. “I hope to encourage more students of next year’s newclass to also learn about maple production.”