Press Release received yesterday. Passing on for those who want info.

The 2019 New York State Maple Producers Winter Conference Will Be The Greatest Yet
A producer-focused 2019 NYS Maple Conference with practical and hands-on sessions for maple farms to enhance existing and expanding operations.
January 4 and 5, 2019

The 2019 NYS Maple Conference will be the greatest yet because of a great new location. After 19 years in Verona, the New York Maple Conference is moving just down the Thruway to the New York State Fair in Syracuse. This location offers all of the trade show in one very large room, larger meeting rooms so everyone who wants in can fit. It will also offer larger parking space and access to the Fair Maple Center for those who have not had a chance to see how everything works at this, one of the world’s most successful maple marketing locations. This year’s event is scheduled for January 4th and 5th, 2019 and remains the first of the new year for maple producers throughout North America. Friday evening will feature two educational sessions starting at 5:30. One will be an open discussion and demonstration of the various ways to make maple sugar candy, from low investment to more complicated equipment. The second session will feature Steve Zoey of Zoey Advertising talking about how marketing the natural goodness of maple syrup can be a challenge to most rank and file maple producers. Steve understands marketing and more specifically the challenges that you have advertising your products. This educational and motivational address will inspire you and give specific marketing tactics that will profit your bottom line. Don't miss it! "The 7 Habits of successfully marketing maple". The annual maple equipment auction will follow these sessions. Saturday will feature over 40 sessions on all aspects of maple production, see session descriptions and registration information at cornellmaple.com. The day-and-a-half event will be hosted by the New York Maple Producers Association in conjunction with the New York FFA Alumni Association and Cornell Maple Program. The conference will follow a similar format as previous years.

Information on auction items will be made available via email request after December 28th. Auction service fee will be 15% of auction price paid by seller. Auction participants MUST be registered for Friday night’s conference in order to receive a bid number and participate in the auction. Register for bid numbers onsite and payment of items must be cash or check.

Conference registration opens at 4:30 PM Friday night; trade show begins at 4:30 PM with maple workshops scheduled between 5:30 PM and 7:00 PM. A live maple equipment auction will be held Friday night at 6:00 PM. Saturday’s doors open at 7:30 AM with workshops beginning at 9:00 AM. Overnight accommodations are available at Clarion Inn, 100 Farrell Road, just 5 minutes from the Fairgrounds. Cost of the rooms are $65.99 per night. Phone number is 315-457-8700. Request accommodations under “maple block”. For information, contact Maple Conference coordinator Keith Schiebel at kschiebel@tds.net The full education agenda be available at the New York State Maple Producers Website: www.nysmaple.com or the Cornell Maple Program website: www.cornellmaple.com.