Members of the South Kirby Hilltoppers 4-H Club had a sweet time on February 27 as they traveled to the University of Vermont (UVM) Extension office in Morrisville to learn about maple.

Mark Isselhardt, the UVM Extension maple specialist, led the workshop, which covered the standards of Grade A syrup and focused on two of the four key elements, density and flavor. He also described how sugarmakers use refractometers and hydrometers and demonstrated how important syrup temperature is in making accurate measurements.

4-h'ers experimenting with maple syrup
UVM Extension Maple Specialist Mark Isselhardt shows Waterford 4-H’ers (left to right) Tiernan Whitbred-Hardman, Lachlann Wolfe and Noah Rock how to use a hydrometer to measure the density of syrup during a workshop, February 27 in Morrisville. (photo: Holly Ferris/UVM Extension)

Isselhardt also discussed syrup flavor and how color and flavor are related. The 4-H’ers and their parents then tasted syrup samples that met the standard and some that did not to help them understand the differences.

kids tasting maple syrup
Members of the South Kirby Hilltoppers, all from Waterford, sampled maple syrup as part of a maple workshop, February 27 in Morrisville. They were (left to right) Noah Rock, Abihne Failor-Bowles with club leader Jennifer Wood and Finnley Wood. (photo: Holly Ferris/UVM Extension)

Participating in the workshop were Lily and Kaila Call, and Abihne Failor-Bowles, Noah Rock, Tiernan Whitbred-Hardman, Finnley Wood, Lachlann Wolfe along with their leader, Jennifer Wood, all from Waterford.

The club’s overall focus is on maple this year with members working on related projects, including building models of sugarhouses. The workshop provided a valuable opportunity to meet with a maple expert to ask questions and learn more about maple production.

4-h'ers experimenting with maple syrup
Tiernan Whitbred-Hardman, Lachlann Wolfe and Noah Rock (seated left to right at the table) practice using a hydrometer to test syrup density as Kaila Call, Lily Call, 4-H club leader Jennifer Wood and Finnley Wood look on. (photo: Holly Ferris/UVM Extension)

Holly Ferris, UVM Extension 4-H educator for Caledonia and Lamoille Counties, organized the workshop. She can be reached at holly.ferris@uvm.edu or (802) 656-7562.