2017 Pre-Season Meeting

Maple Syrup Producers Association of CT
Pre-Season Meeting
REMINDER TO ALL MSPAC MEMBERS:
On Saturday, January 21st, 2017, the annual Pre-season Meeting will be held at Lyman Memorial High School in Lebanon, CT. The meeting will start at 9 am and run to 3 pm. Coffee, donuts, etc. will be available at 8 am and chili and clam chowder will be available for lunch. So, bring a good appetite! After a brief business meeting (agenda below), David Butler, from Leader Evaporator, will share "hands-on" information and tips that will be definitely useful for the oncoming 2017 season. Dave combines years of experience making maple syrup in his own operation in Vermont with his experience working with Leader, a leading manufacturer of maple equipment, and many working visits to maple operations, both small and large, all over the maple belt. In short, he has a wealth of practical knowledge that he will share with us that is applicable to both the small and large producer. Of course, he will also allow ample time for questions. Following lunch, several workshops will take place including ones on: GPSing your sugarbush, grading your maple syrup using Hanna digital grading devices, Small RO Machines, and as well as a representative from Bosworth Pumps to explain their vacuum system for small sugar-bushes. Workshops will have alternating times in order to allow members to view different workshops to get the most out of their day. Dave Butler will be available for more questions and the Ag Science sugar house will be open for tours.
Remember: 1) Don't forget to bring your hydrometers for testing. 2) Dealers will be present for all your last minute needs. Special Attraction: The sugar house at the Agricultural Science School will be open for a tour with students there to answer questions during our lunch time.
New Business: The maple syrup contest winners will be announced. There will also be a raffle so bring a few extra bucks to help raise money for the association. Donations to the raffle are appreciated. We will also discuss the idea of pulling together a voluntary web based MSPAC discussion forum, idea exchange and bulletin board (for MSPAC members to advertise equipment for sale and the like). In addition, maple quality will be a subject of discussion as well as an update about the Food Safety and Modernization Act with the FDA.
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Directions to Lyman Memorial High School: The address is 917 Exeter Rd. in Lebanon.
FROM HARTFORD:
Rt. 2 East from Hartford. Take exit 13. Turn left at end of exit on to Rt. 66 east. Drive 6 miles to the junction of Rt. 85 (1st traffic light). Turn Right on Rt. 85 south. Drive approx. 2 miles and Rt. 207 will come in from the left hand side of the road. Turn left on Rt. 207. Approx. 8 miles Lyman Memorial High School will be on your right.
FROM THE SOUTH: Rt. 95 to Rt. 395 North. Take exit 81W (it is marked for Hartford and UCONN) to Rt. West. Stay in the Rt. hand lane through Construction. Take exit to Rt. 32 North approx. 1 mile from where you got on Rt. 2 west. Drive North on Rt. 32 less than 1 mile and you will see Rt. 87 - enter from the left (just past Holgrom Subaru which is on the right) Bear left (about a 60-degree turn) onto rt. 87 North. Drive Approximately 10 miles North to the Junction of Rt. 207 (Flashing caution light) Turn Left onto Rt. 207 west - Lyman Memorial High School is approximately 1.2 miles on your left. FROM MIDDLETOWN: Rt. 66 east out of Middletown. Drive through Portland, East Hampton, Marlborough and into Hebron until you come to the junction of Rt. 85. Turn Right on Rt. 85 south. Drive approx. 2 miles and Rt. 207 will come in from the left hand side of the road Turn left on Rt. 207. Approx. 8 miles Lyman Memorial High School will be on your right.
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Agenda
CT MAPLE Preseason Meeting
January 21, 2017
8:00 – 9:00
Registration, Coffee and Maple Refreshments
Say hello to your friends in the maple community.
Shop the Maple Equipment Marketplace. Enjoy
Homemade maple pastries and Donuts from Neil’s Donuts ranked best donuts in CT by CT Magazine and 1 of the top 50 in the country by Savour Magazine.
Lobby
9:00 – 10:00
Business Meeting
Mark Harran | President Maple Producers of CT
All are welcome to the business meeting where you will get updated on the what the association is doing on your behalf as CT Sugar Makers. Learn about what is going on in terms of new regulations. Learn about what is being done at the National and International Associations. We are very fortunate to be represented on the National and International Associations by CT Maple members. Exercise your vote on the agenda for the association in 2017 and beyond.
Auditorium
10:00 – 10:30
Coffee Break
Vendors Available Maple Snacks and Donuts
Lobby
10:30 – 12:00
Featured Speaker Increasing Production
Dave Butler | Leader Evaporator
David Butler will discuss solutions to a few problems many producers face out in the sugarbush. He will then open it up so that you can ask questions about specific problems or questions you may face. If you have questions related to tubing, vacuum, or sugarbush management, now is the time to get answers!
Auditorium
12:00 – 12:30
Lunch
Chili and Chowder Lunch
$5 donation requested per attendee
Lobby
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AFTERNOON WORKSHOPS
12:30 – 1:00
1:30 – 2:00
How to Use Hanna Grading Equipment
A representative from Hanna will be available to demonstrate how to use their refractometers and digital graders. Bring a sample of syrup to get tested.
Room 109
12:30 – 1:00
1:30 – 2:00
Small Producer Reverse Osmosis
Steve | Next Generation Maple
Next Generation Maple Products was created when the owner’s maple sugaring hobby turned into an obsession! Being the owner of CFR Technologies, Inc., a machining and manufacturing company located in East Syracuse, NY, Steve soon started making his own maple production equipment. As a hobbyist and business owner, I realized there was a need for efficient and affordable maple equipment for those new to maple sugaring, and that is why Next Generation Maple Products is focused on making affordable maple equipment. Steve will be talking about Next Gen’s $1,500, 90 gph Reverse Osmosis unit!
Room 106
1:00 – 1:30
2:00 – 2:30
Small Producer Vacuum
Bosworth Representative| Bosworth Pump
The Bosworth Company is pleased to announce the availability of a new motorized double-diaphragm pump, the Guzzler G2 SapPuller, designed for vacuum production on maple sap collection lines. The Guzzler G2 SapPuller is self-priming, can run dry or wet, and requires no separator. It can support vacuum production on up to 800 taps.
Room 108
1:00 – 1:30
2:00 – 2:30
Map Your Sugarbush with Your Smartphone
Dave Dickson| UConn Extension
You can map the trees in your sugar bush with a few simple apps on your smart phone. This demonstration workshop will show you how to record the location (Lat/Long coordinates) and other descriptive information of the trees in your sugarbush with your smartphone and use that information to create a web based map of your trees
Room 114
2:30 – 3:00
Roundtable of 100 tap or less producers
Dave Butler | Leader Evaporator
Auditorium
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OTHER ACTIVITIES
8:00 – 3:00
Maple Marketplace
This is a great opportunity to shop for your last-minute maple supplies from the Top Maple supply companies in the state. All members are welcome to bring any new or used surplus equipment that they would like to sell. We will have any area where the equipment for sale can be exhibited or just post a photo with your info on our available equipment board.
Lamothe’s Sugarhouse | Dealers of CDL and D& G
Norman’s Sugarhouse | Dealers of Leader
Bosworth Pumps |Mfg of Vacuum Pumps
Next Generation Maple | Mfg of Maple Equipment
Leader Evaporator | Mfg of Maple Equipment
CT Maple Gear & Signs |The CT Maple Association
Hanna Instruments
8:00 – 3:00
Get your Hydrometer Calibrated By a Pro
Steve Broderick |
Get you Sap and Syrup Hydrometers tested and calibrated before the season begins.
Lobby
11:30-1:00
Sugarhouse Tour & Lyman Ag Program Tour
Students | Lyman Memorial
Lyman has a great Ag program that includes an operating sugarhouse. Take a tour with the students of Lyman who will share their excitement about maple with you.
Outside
12:00 -12:30
Maple Raffle Drawings
We will hold a raffle of donated items to help benefit the associations educational programs. Any donations are greatly appreciated.
Lobby