Maple syrup producers from across the nation and Canada will come together in La Crosse on Oct. 26-29 for the 2022 International Maple Syrup Conference. It’s the first time Wisconsin has hosted this event in 16 years.
Theresa Baroun is the executive director of the Wisconsin Maple Syrup Producers Association. Her family has about 1,200 taps in De Pere. She says the event is open to everyone, and you can register at any time. However, if you’re looking to lock in a meal ticket, you’ll want to register by Oct. 1. You can see the schedule of meetings, sessions, tours, meals and more at wismaple.org.
This celebration of maple will include NAMSC Meetings and a U.S Maple Alliance Meeting. It will also include a trade show of key products, equipment, and services for all maple syrup producers and professionals to view. Technical sessions highlighting the latest research initiatives and programs funded by the NAMSC and other groups of interest. The trade show, lunch area and technical sessions are all on one level of the La Crosse Center within steps of each other.
The IMSI grading school will take place in conjunction with the conference at the Radisson Hotel on
Oct. 30-31. Register at https://extension.umaine.edu/maple-grading-school/2022-schools/
The 3 ¼-day event will begin with the Vendor Maple Trade Show and the Taste of Wisconsin on Wednesday night. It will include a variety of speakers welcoming everyone to Wisconsin and the state’s cuisine.
Thursday will begin with the opening ceremonies followed by NAMSC, U.S. Alliance and Extension meetings. The day will also include a Maple Market Update with panel leaders (IMSI reps, NAMSC board members and industry leaders) and a keynote: Native Americans talking about maple’s past, present and future.
Thursday will also include an optional tour of Historic/Dark La Crosse. The “Dark” portion of the tour focuses on downtown La Crosse’s macabre past. The tour will go down a dark path through the red-light district, Prohibition, small-town politics, and vigilante justice in a young and restless river town bordered by the sleepless Mississippi River will include a coffee, lunch, wine and cheese, and dessert stops.
Thursday night will be dinner on your own or a sunset cruise and steamboat smorgasbord on the La Crosse Queen. There are also many excellent restaurants within walking distance of the La Crosse Center.
Friday will be filled with three different Coach bus tours. The tours will including the Great River tour which will include stops at the Eagle Center, Elmaro Winery, and the Legendary Dahl’s Auto Museum. Lunch will include a “True Wisconsin Friday Fish Fry”. The Maple Tour will include a variety of sugarbushes including Maple Valley, Country Maple Supplies, Phil Gudgeon’s Maple Syrup and wildlife reserves. Lunch will include a “True Wisconsin Chicken Dinner”.
After the tours, unwind Friday night with a “tailgating night”, happy hour, surprise entertainment, tailgating games on the patio with outdoor fire rings and the vendor maple trade show. The silent auction will begin at 4:30 proceeds from the auction will benefit Maple Research. Various Raffles will be held including but not limited to beautiful Maple Leaf quilt hand crafted by a WMSPA member.
On Saturday, there will be a one-day registration for those that don’t plan on attending the whole conference. The day will have a variety of technical sessions including researchers, judging from a judges point of view, long term impacts of tapping and sap collection on tree growth and health, total yields and syrup flavor from Red Maple, Cooking with Maple and more education sections to come.
Throughout the day there will also be vendor spotlights showcasing the various vendors. There will be an optional tour to Granddad Bluff and shop local scavenger hunt Experience Saturday throughout the day. Saturday night will include the banquet with various awards and recognitions will be given. These will include the awards from the different maple judging contests including maple cream, maple syrup, and maple themed photos. The silent auction will conclude at 7:30 p.m. with proceeds going toward maple research.
The 2002 International Maple Conference is open to all size maple producers and beyond. All registration info can be found here: www.wismaple.org/2022
Lodging here: https://explorelacrosse.sendsites.net/L/Rate-Sheet/F/4123182801/P/MapleSyrupBt4z
Many hotels offer free shuttle service from the airport. All hotels are in walking distance from the La Crosse Center. If you have any questions or would like to make an auction donation, contact Theresa Baroun: [email protected]
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