Across the pond, preparations for the crowning of royalty are underway. However, closer to home, royalty of a different kind is being celebrated.
Across the pond, preparations for the crowning of royalty are underway.
However, closer to home, royalty of a different kind is being celebrated.
The Geauga County Maple Festival sponsored the 2023 Maple Syrup Hall of Fame Brunch April 22 at Mary Yoder’s Amish Kitchen in Middlefield, crowning this year’s maple syrup winners.
“This year was definitely a stunning year. We had the largest competition ever with 151 entries and every sample was outstanding,” said Kevin Holy, Geauga maple committee chairman. “Very close competition and every producer, whether top seven or not, should be extremely proud. This year’s maple season was for the most part a record year in Geauga County and surrounding areas.”
Event organizer Dave Patterson said the annual brunch is a very special time for producers to get together and share stories of the season, as well as honor their fellow producers in the maple award.
It’s the reason maple producer Tom Salo’s phone did not stop ringing following the announcement he was grand champion of the Producer Class.
“It is an honor to be grand champion,” said Salo, who owns Salo Maple Products in Montville Township. “This is something I thought I would never win because it is always like splitting hairs with the scoring process. To have a perfect score of 100 points is hard to do.”
Holy said the grand champion syrup checked every box — density, clarity, color and fantastic taste.
“It was scored a perfect 100 points, the only one in the entire competition and first time a dark sample was ever crowned grand champion,” Holy said. “He submitted a perfect representation sample of the grade.”
Holy, owner of Seldom Seen Farm in Montville Township, said judges had a tough time this year as all the syrup entries were fantastic, and more syrup than not was lighter in color than last year.
Salo said he processes sap as soon as possible to make the best syrup and keeps all his tanks and equipment clean and ready to go for the next sap run.
“I have traveled to most all maple producing states and into Canada, and have made several friends over the years and have learned a lot from them, as well as a large variety of local schools that are offered in the off-season,” Salo said.
His interest in maple syrup production began as kid while he was on a field trip to Hale Farm and Village, where he experienced his first maple syrup operation.
“Years later, I started working for Geauga Park District where part of the job was the maple operation at Swine Creek Reservation,” Salo said. “The next year, I started my operation here in Montville with a small pan and the maple addiction started.”
He expressed gratitude to all his “awesome” mentors over the years.
The event’s 2023 Certificate of Appreciation went to Helen Gilmore — an artist who does portrait sketches of hall of fame recipients that are displayed in the Patterson Center on the Geauga County Fairgrounds.
“Helen is a true treasure to the hall of fame,” Patterson said.
Jen Freeman had her portrait inducted into the 2023 hall of fame
“Jen is incredible,” Holy said. “She contributes so much volunteer time to this industry. It is amazing. She is nationally recognized and respected for her contributions to this industry.”
Patterson added Freeman is involved in every aspect of the Geauga County Maple Festival.
“Jen does it all,” Patterson said. “I have personally worked with her for many years and I know her excitement and dedication to everything maple.”
Freeman serves as Richards Maple Products president, Ohio Maple Producers Association president, co-chair of the Geauga County Maple Festival’s lumberjack contest, Geauga County Maple Festival director, delegate for the North American Maple Syrup Council and an alternate for the international Maple Syrup Institute.
“This was not an honor I was expecting,” Freeman said. “I am humbled, excited and overwhelmed. I was at the Patterson Center not too long ago, looking at pictures of past inductees — truly a moment of feeling accomplished.”
She could recall a moment when maple has not been a part of her life.
“I was born into a maple family during the maple festival,” Freeman said. “My destiny was predetermined.”
Her young son, Jaiden, clung by his mom’s side throughout the event.
“I am hoping Jaiden will want to take over later in life,” Freeman said. “Right now, he is our taste-tester and also helps with some cleaning and a few other little jobs.”
She said she knows she might work too much, but she has big and meaningful goals.
“I’m hoping my son is watching me, seeing that you have to work hard for what you want,” Freeman said. “Also, that the world is bigger than yourself. Volunteering and service to others makes it a better place.”
Salo recalled a time he would never forget in 2020.
“I was four hours from tapping and I got my call informing me that I would be going on chemo,” Salo said. “I contacted the other Montville producers and told them what was up and they all said if I can get the sap to them, they would boil it for me.”
“Thanks Kevin, Chris and Carl for helping out in a crazy time,” Salo added.
He noted other times he worked together with other producers, borrowing tools and supplies, or helping move logs or downed trees.
Salo said he tries to pay it forward by mentoring with Hershey Montessori farm school for several years and has enjoyed helping several backyard producers get started.
“I have placed several times over the years, but being the grand champion is something I never thought I would get,” Salo said.
Raise a Hand for Geauga’s Best Maple
Now’s the chance to bid on the best of the best maple syrup in Geauga County.
The Maple Festival Auction will be held at noon — rain, sleet, snow or sunshine —on April 30 at the main grandstand.
The top seven placers of all three grades of syrup will be auctioned off along with the first-place maple gift pack, ceremonial painted sap bucket and stir booth double bell.
“We are very appreciative of our producers that enter the contest so we can have the best of the best Geauga County syrup to auction off,” said Bob Rogish, annual auction emcee, reiterating this year’s competition was close.
“It’s about impossible to know that you are sampling the first-place syrups, let alone the grand champion,” said Rogish, one of the judges.
All judges have is a three-digit number used to identify a sample.
“We award it color, clarity and density points in the afternoon, and the next morning, we do the flavor judging,” Rogish said.
Points are then added up by the contest chairman and placings awarded.
Then, the head judge takes some time, re-samples the three first-place syrups and awards a winner.
“Later that next week, after the judging is all complete, the random three-digit numbers have the producers’ names listed and the awards are prepared,” Rogish said. “It’s truly a blind sample for us judges.”
Proceeds of auction help offset the operation expenses of the festival.
“Auctioneer Scott Mihalic is a Chardon favorite that has been auctioning our syrups for many years and we thank him for that,” Rogish said. “Finally, thanks to our buyers, they come from around the county to support the Geauga County Maple Festival.”
