News Release

For More Information
Terese L. Volkmann, Tour Chair
440-834-1415, volkmann@simcon.net

2010 March Maple Madness Driving Tour

March is here and that means the March Maple Madness Driving Tour is ready to roll. The Ohio Maple Producers Association, a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to the Ohio maple industry, sponsors the tour. The free event takes place March 13 & 14, 20 & 21, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sugarhouses across Ohio will be open for the free, drive-it-yourself tour. Experienced sugar makers will be on hand to answer questions and conduct tours. Several stops are Amish sugarhouses, Saturday only. Dress for the weather with coats and boots.
A complete listing of all the stops will be available at each stop or can be printed off at www.ohiomapleproducers.com. This year there are three Hub Stops that are set up with statewide maps and directions. The Hub Stops are Richards Maple Products, 545 Water Street, Chardon, Burton Log Cabin, Burton Park, and Camp Whitewood, Wiswell Road, Windsor.
Maple syrup production in northeast Ohio dates back to Native Americans who tapped the maple tree each spring to make sweet sugar. The tradition continued, beginning with early settlers and has survived to today. Some of the stops will be small ventures where enough sweet, golden syrup is made for the family's annual needs to large commercial operations.
For more information on the tour or maple production, contact Terese L. Volkmann, Tour Chair, 440-834-1415 or volkmann@simcon.net.
Maple syrup is made in only a very small part of the entire world. Ohio is in the heart of this amazing area. Visit a maple operation during the 2010 March Maple Madness Driving Tour and learn about pure maple syrup.

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2010 March Maple Madness
Drive-It-Yourself Tour

March Maple Madness Drive-It-Yourself Tour of selected maple sugaring operations will be open to the public 10 am " 5 pm - Free - Look for the signs
This is a great family day in the country learning where pure maple syrup comes from!

Dress for the weather - Boots and outwear a must!

Hub Stops " Visit For Local Directions And Other Information

CHARDON AREA HUB STOP
1. Richards Maple Products, 545 Water St., Rt. 6, Chardon City. Maple syrup gift shop with samples, maple candy demonstrations and operating sugarhouse. 150 taps, demonstration sugar operation. Easy access

2. Sunday March 14 & 21 Only Geauga County Maple Festival Sugarhouse, South end of Historic Chardon Square, Chardon. Enjoy fresh maple stirs and other tasty maple treats in working sugarhouse.

2. Sunday March 14 Only " Tappin' Sunday at the Geauga County Maple Festival Sugarhouse " The official start of sugaring season in Ohio with the ceremonial tapping of the first maple tree of the season.

3. Grossman Maple Products, 12147 Claridon-Troy Rd, Claridon, north of Rt. 322. New timber framed sugarhouse. 500+ taps on tubing with vacuum, 3X12 wood fired evaporator. Easy access

4. Geauga Maple Company, 12100 Claridon Troy Road, Claridon, north of Rt. 322. Geauga County's largest sugaring operation with traditional sugarhouse nestled in managed maple forest for 50 years. Comfort facility

BURTON AREA HUB STOP
5. Burton Sugar Camp, on the south end of Burton Square. For over seven decades, the Burton Chamber Of Commerce has operated this working sugarhouse with maple sales funds used locally.

6. Pancake Town USA, Burton, Sunday March 14 & 21. Mountains of fresh pancakes covered with pure maple syrup and all the fixings. For locations and costs visit www.burtonchamberofcommerce.org

7. Sugar Valley Maple, James Miller Family, 15771 Chipmunk Lane, Middlefield. South of Rt. 87 between White Rd. & Lake St. 1800-tap pipeline. Easy access. Amish Saturday Only

8. Maple Hill Farm, Daniel Byler Family, 15658 Burton Windsor Rd, Middlefield, east of Old State Road, Rt. 608, Middlefield. 1000 taps on buckets. Amish Saturday Only

9. Valley View Sugarhouse, Billy Yoder Family, 15920 Burton Windsor, Middlefield. 400 taps tubing on vacuum, 3.5 X 13 wood fired with pre-heater. Easy access. Amish Saturday Only

10. Creekside Maple, Bob Welder Family, 16767 Swine Creek Rd., Middlefield, east of intersection of Rt. 608 & 528. Saturday enjoy a pancake breakfast 9 to 1.
11. Geauga Park District Swine Creek Reservation, 16004 Hayes Rd., Middlefield. 1.5 miles south of Rt. 87
800 taps. Learn about the history of maple syrup making with park display. Hands on activities.

12. Sugarbush Creek Farm, Jim Cermak Family, 13034 Rt. 528, Middlefield, south of Rt. 322 High tech maple operation with 2,200 taps. Enjoy horse drawn wagon ride to sugarhouse.

13. Messenger Century Farm, Belew Family, 17098 Messenger Road, Auburn Township. Sugarhouse in 1905 building. Easy Access

14. Saturday March 20 Only - Olde Tyme Sugarhouse Dinner, First United Methodist Church, 14999 S. State Avenue, Middlefield, Rt. 608 South of Rt. 87. Maple dinner 4:30 to 7 Adults $9, 6 " 12 $5.

ASHTABULA COUNTY AREA HUB STOP
15. Camp White Wood, 7983 S. Wiswell Road, Windsor, south of Rt. 322. Maple Camp with tours, tasting and other activities.

16. Hopewell Sugarhouse, 9488 Rt. 534, Mesopotamia, north of Rt. 87. Mental health facility where residents help collect sap for traditional sugaring operation. Saturday Only

17. Deer Run Sugarbush, Ray Gingerich, 1537 Easton Rd, Colebrook, 1.5 miles east of Rt. 46, south of Rt. 322. Heated sugarhouse set back in the woods with gravel drive and 6,000 taps. Amish Saturday Only

18. Saturday March 13 & 20 only - Evans Maple Products, Karl & Amber Evans, 10238 Dennison Ashtabula Rd., Colebrook, east of Rt. 46 and north of Rt. 87. Operation in converted dairy barn. 2,500 taps.

19. Bissell Sugarhouse, 3741 Higley Road, Trumbull Township, Scenic location

Statewide Sugar Camps Outside Northeast Ohio
20. Mahoning County " Saturday March 13 & 20 only, noon to 5. Misty Maple Sugarhouse, Hively Family, 10644 Middletown Road, Salem. Third generation syrup maker in operation since 1984.

21. Monroe County " Misty Mountain Estate, 32600 Christman Ridge Road, Malaga Township. Third generation sugar maker. Tour woods to see pails and tubing system, historical displays and hands on activities.

22. Medina County " Maple Valley Farm, 8701 Hubbard Valley Road, Guilford Township. Fourth and fifth generation producers. Tour dairy barn, see calves, and hayride to woods.

23. Seneca County " Ziegler Farms, 8240 S. Township Road 171, Eden Township. Sugarhouse established in 1988, pails and tubing operation.

24. Seneca County - Sunday March 14 only, Seneca County Maple Fest, 10 - 3, Snavely's Sugar Shack, 9409 E. Township. Rd. 138, Republic. Pancake breakfast, syrup and candy demos, 7th generation producers.

25. Wyandot County " Herring Farms, 16303 Twp. Hwy. 124, Harpster. Historic farmstead with 7th generation syrup producers, remodeled sugarhouse, modern and efficient operation and tour woods along Sandusky River.

26. Licking County " Dawes Arboretum, 7770 Jacksontown Road, Newark. 1925 Log Cabin is deep in woods now used as sugarhouse with maple displays. Maple trees planted in 1918 to make syrup.

27. Richland County " March 13 & 14 only "Noon to 4 - Malabar Farm, 4050 Bromfield Road, Lucas. Historic Ohio site with sugarhouse, horse drawn wagon rides and historic displays.

For More Information : www.ohiomapleproducersassociation.com
440-834-141