11th Annual Maple Producers Conference

[Maple Flats]

I sent in my reservation today to attend the maple conference in Verona, NY coming Jan 6&7 2006. Who else is going? I think we should all meet sometime during the event at The Maple Guys booth and meet some of those we have spent so much time talking with and sharing ideas with but in many cases have never meet. We should come up with a way to show other forum members who we are (such as wear our forum name on our nametag we will all get at the show. Anyone who has never attended, you are really missing a lot. This show is truly a great one. A large number of venders, and all day saturday is filled with short seminars on many topics. Each time slot offers 10 or 11 different sessions for you to choose from and there are 5 such slots. Many topics are offered during more than once so you can better get to the ones you are most interested in. These sessions are given by experts in the topic being covered, who actually do it and not just read up on it to learn enough to talk about it. Each session covers 50 minutes ane all I have been to the last 2 years have been real good (04 was my first year going and 06 won't be my last, the Good Lord willing). Let me know who else is going and I will be looking for you.
Maple Flats :D

[mapleman3]

I will be going again this year(pretty sure), I learned alot last year and met up with some traders there, so I'm looking forward to it, Great Idea about the name tags, Maybe we can get a second tag that will say.. example "Mapletrader.com Mapleman3" who knows maybe we can get Brandon up this way again!! :D :wink:

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

Guys,

I would love to come again and see each of you, but guess I will have to pass. Makes for a busy weekend flying 800+ miles each way in 2 days and mapleman having to chase all over the place for me. :oops:

Maybe in a few years, but I will be wishing I was there! Sure is a great show! :D

[brookledge]

I will not be able to go I'll be getting ready to set sail with the family on a 10 day cruise. But It sounds like a good conference. Its to bad because I could stay at turning stone and win a little money to pay for all the maple stuff i could buy o well.
Keith

[mountainvan]

used to go to trout creek seminar, verona is a ways, but maybe this year. heck maybe I'll be making syrup with as weird as the weather has been.

[Dropflue]

We were thinking of getting there on Friday night. Maybe hit the casino and win enough to buy a new evaporator or an RO (Or lose everything and hitch hike home). Either way will be there Saturday. Any others going –Syrupmaker ? MapleKing ?

[themapleking]

Free food, Talking Maple, I see there's more classes on candy and stuff this year.
I'll be going again. It's like Ricks partys' You just don't want to miss'em.

[chris]

Kim will have Mapletrader tags made up and available at our booth - just let her know if you want one made up ahead of time (or we can just hand write one there). We are planning on staying at the casino Friday and Saturday if anybody wants to get together and have a cocktail with us.
Chris

[White Barn Farm]

I am planning to attend with some of the local producers. They all say what a great experience it has been past years. See you there
Ed

[syrupmaker]

Can you believe it? Chris plans on making so much $$$$ at the show that he be able to afford to stay and gamble at the casino. :lol:

Just pokin fun is all, I'll be there. Especially if we can get an official trader name tag !

Rick

[chris]

We have two young toddlers so we don't get out much. This is like a vacation for use.
Chris

[mapleman3]

the Ma. Maple Assoc. is renting a 15 passenger van for us to get there,so there will be a bunch of us from Mass there. we had our board meeting last night and decided on this and will be emailing the members about it. it will be first come first serve. the cost will be in the email.

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

Man I miss being there already, but maybe again sometime. It sure is a tremendous conference and there is a ton to see and learn if you have never been.

Definitely worth the very small cost to get in and it goes to a very good cause, the local FFA. :D

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

Anyone got a web address for the conference? I have not recieve anything in the mail on it yet-

[Maple Flats]

The email to Keith Schiebel, VVS FFA advisor is kschiebel@vvs-csd-high.moric.org ask for an application. Don't waste any time, Dec 15 I think is the cut off for pre registration, after that you pay more to register.You can also go on this site to news/ 11th annual winter... and at the very end is an application, print it out and mail very soon to beat the Dec 15 deadline!

[Johnny Cuervo]

I just registered; hope to see you all there.
I just learned about this show last year while visiting this site. Ironically it was on the first night of the show, I read about it and ran out the next day to catch the last couple of hours. Little did I know a conference about maple production is 25 minutes from my house!!

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

I'll spin my wheels- Spent $50 on gas+ registration last year to go. Mainly was interested in the Ginseng speech and the guy never showed up? Iced in was the reason and 3 hr travel-Well i had snowed in and a 4 1/2 hr ride and i made it-240 Mi. one way. I filled out the conference evaluation form and got a response- Keith said that next time they would put speakers up the night before so that they will be able to make the show-Recommended to him that if i had a no show because of the storm would i get a refund on my pre-registration? Never got a yes. So/If i go i will probably pay the extra at the door. Play the weather card..

[mapleman3]

any Mass Maplers out there want to go in on the Van with us(Ma. Maple Producers Board of Directors).. right now we are at 8 people... we can fit 15... it will be around $25 if we get 15... more if there's less people... but still will be MUCH less than driving yourself. Email me PM me or Call me if your interested for next Sat

sure beats driving alone... and think of all the maple talk 8O :wink:

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

What time is the Maple Traders group photo going to take place at the Maple Guys booth?? 845am??

[dads hobby]

Where exactly is Varona NY I have looked one a road map I have here but cant find it. I do not think I will be going as it is a 6 hour trip just to get to Niagara Fall. I might consider a trip next year though, If I start planning now. Might be able to combine a familly trip to the falls at the same time.

[Maple Flats]

Verona is at exit 33 on the NYS thruway. from there you are 5 minutes or less to VVS. Out of the toll booth bear RT, go to the first light, turn RT and go (east on rt 31) about 2 miles, school on right, huge. As soon as you can see the school, turn TR on road just before school, 2nd drive left turn into school parking takes you to the door you enter. For others not going on the thruway, Verona is about 8 miles ssw of Rome, 5 miles ene of Oneida and between Syracuse and Utica, closer to utica and just a little north, on rt 31 2 miles east of intersection with rt 365. It is essentially in the center of NYS

[mapleman3]

Hmm I'll plug the coordinates into the GPS so I won't get lost!!

[dads hobby]

Thanks for the directions but I don't think I will be going this year. For me it looks like a 8 to 10 hour trip and with three kids under 10 I don't think so.I have already starteted to loose my hair :( I wouldn't want the rest to fall out on one trip. Maybe next year.To everyone who is going have a good time and keep bringing those good tips back for us poor guys who just can't make it. :wink: