ASHLAND, Ohio — Ohio Maple Days are back, but in a different format and at a new time. 2022 Ohio Maple Days are scheduled for Dec. 10; however, on Dec. 9 there is an optional event on business management at the same location. The event will be held at John C Myers Convocation Center, on the campus of Ashland University in Ashland Ohio.

According to Kathy Smith, this event is taking the place of the former three-day option for maple days in January.  Smith is the Extension Program Director, Forestry, School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University. 

“We had producers requesting the meetings be in December so that they wouldn’t impact getting trees tapped in January,” said Smith. “We decided to do a one-day event in early December to try to better meet their needs.”

 Smith said the meeting is targeted towards producers and those who may be considering getting into producing. “There is research presented to help producers become more efficient at making syrup and offering options that perhaps they hadn’t thought of before,” she said. “ The ability to mix with other producers and vendors also adds a dimension to the event that can contribute to spike more interest in the industry and expose them to new equipment and technology to help them become better producers.”

Smith said last year’s meeting had a feedback form for attendees to help form the following year’s topics

“New research is always important to share so we sort through what is out there that is important to Ohio producers,” said Smith. “ We don’t really have a keynote speaker – just line up the topics as we think they flow.”

 This year, there is an optional event on Dec. 9 for producers interested in learning more about business management and developing a business plan led by Mark Cannella, from the University of Vermont. “The maple business planning is a program from the University of Vermont and Mark is trying to help producers improve the business side of their business,” said Smith.

The workshop includes sessions on strategic planning, marketing, and managing finances toward profitability. “This program will offer time for group discussion and give producers time to work on their business plan targeting their priorities,” she added.

Workshop participants are encouraged to bring business records and information that would apply the seminar to their operations. Smith said this workshop will help producers discover other ways to look at their business or just create a ‘plan’ for their business. 

“The hope is to make them better at the business side of their operation,” she said.

 A second event on Friday evening is a new feature: A Sweet Gathering. A Sweet Gathering offers a buffet featuring three main dishes featuring maple as a key ingredient. The event also includes maple beer and cocktails featuring maple and other side dishes.  “This came from all of us – thinking it is great to be able to highlight other ways to use maple products than just on waffles and pancakes,” said Smith.

The cost for A Sweet Gathering is $60 and registration or requests for more information may be made by contacting the Ohio Maple Producers Association at http://www.ohiomaple.org

 The Saturday Dec. 10 session includes sessions on ACER Grant updates, marketing and maple products, maple pests, reverse osmosis, and red maples and their syrup yield and flavor.

“Our goal is to make this an annual event that helps producers become better at making maple syrup,” said Smith. “We have expanded the vendor section of this event so that producers can talk one on one with different vendors that can contribute to them being better producers.”

Ohio Maple Days are presented by the Ohio Woodlands Stewards Program. The deadline for registration is Dec. 1. For more information visit woodlandstewards.osu.edu