Potter County Men Win at Farm Show

Harrisburg – The 2010 Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg has a lot to offer maple syrup enthusiasts, with educational displays, competition and fresh maple syrup products available for sale.

Janet Woods of the Pennsylvania Maple Syrup producers and the Pennsylvania Maple Syrup royalty presented a maple syrup production demonstration on Monday, Jan. 11, at the show. Together they covered a variety of topics including the types of trees used for syrup, the tools used in the production process and the history of maple syrup making.

“Most people don’t know that it takes at least 40 gallons of tree sap to produce one gallon of maple syrup,” said Woods.

Woods, an Erie County native, has been producing syrup her entire life and was the premiere exhibitor for the second year in a row at the 2010 Pennsylvania Farm Show. With 15 classes available, Woods was able to enter one of her products in every class.

Contestants must enter a minimum of 10 classes, including an entry in the Individual Educational Exhibit, to qualify for the Premier Exhibit. Points are given for each placing then combined at the conclusion of the show. Those with the most points can win cash prizes.

Judge Terry Coleman, Ludington, Mich., looked for high quality syrup by examining color, appearance and flavor along with other specifications.

Pennsylvania Maple Syrup producers run the booth in the food court. Here the public can buy pure maple syrup, maple cotton candy, maple sugar, and more.

Winners of the 2010 Pennsylvania Farm Show Maple Syrup Contest were:

Syrup in tin or plastic half gallon
First: James Bortles, Linesville, Crawford Co.
Second: Janet M. Woods, Edinboro, Erie Co.

Syrup in tin or plastic one quart
First: James Bortles, Linesville, Crawford Co.
Second: Janet M. Woods, Edinboro, Erie Co.

Light Amber in glass
First: James Bortles, Linesville, Crawford Co.
Second: Janet M. Woods, Edinboro, Erie Co.

Medium Amber in glass
First: Charles M. Nelson, Genesee, Potter Co.
Second: Janet M. Woods, Edinboro, Erie Co.

Dark Amber in glass
First: Charles M. Nelson, Genesee, Potter Co.
Second: Floyd R. Thomas, Moscow, Lackawanna Co.

Sugar, cake-individual pieces
First: Larry Hamilton, Ulysses, Potter Co.
Second: Jim & Dora Tice, Mainesburg, Tioga Co.

Sugar, cake, crystal coated – individual pieces
First: Larry Hamilton, Ulysses, Potter Co.
First: Charles M. Nelson, Genesee, Potter Co.

Sugar, crumb
First: Gerhard Bilek, Cranesville, Erie Co.
Second: Larry Hamilton, Ulysses, Potter Co.

Sugar, soft – maple cream or butter
First: Janet M. Woods, Edinboro, Erie Co.
Second: Gerhard Bilek, Cranesville, Erie Co.

Individual Educational Exhibit
First: Larry Hamilton, Ulysses, Potter Co.
Second: Janet M. Woods, Edinboro, Erie Co.

Gift Pack
First: Ron Shemanksi, Waymart, Wayne Co.
Second: Janet M. Woods, Edinboro, Erie Co.

County or Association Exhibit
First: Janet M. Woods, Edinboro, Erie Co.
Second: Northeastern PA Maple Producers Association, Honesdale, Wayne Co.

Other Uses – Candy
First: Larry Hamilton, Ulysses, Potter Co.
Second: Gerhard Bilek, Cranesville, Erie Co.

Other Uses – Baked Goods
First: Janet M. Woods, Edinboro, Erie Co.
Second: Dorothy Martin, Conestoga, Lancaster Co.

Other Uses – Beverages, Salad Dressings, etc.
First: Debra Martin Berkoski, Conestoga, Lancaster Co.

Best Syrup of Show
James Bortles, Linesville, Crawford Co.

Premier Exhibitor
Janet M. Woods, Edinboro, Erie Co.

Best Collective Pure Maple Products Exhibitor
Larry Hamilton, Ulysses, Potter Co.

The public can buy maple syrup products at the PA Maple Syrup Producers booth in the food court at the 2010 Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg. Pictured are the PA Maple Darling Emma Nathanson and the 2009 PA Maple Sweetheart Kim Guthrie attending to a customer at the booth.
(Photo provided by the state Department of Agriculture)