MEMBER PROFILE
BY TERRY COLEMAN

Tracy and Theresa Powers

Tracy and Theresa Powers run their sugar bush three miles SW of Adrian MI., near the Ohio border. As MMSA members since 1994, they have shown steady growth. Tracy's love for sugaring began as a youngster watching his great uncle run his sugar bush. Tracy made syrup in the back yard in grade school and junior high. He then took up the challenge again in 1992 with his wife at his side.

Their first purchase was a 2'x6' Grimm wood fired evaporator. Next, came an 11'x18' pole building and a leased roadside bush with 150 bucketed taps.

Production was about 60 gallons that year. Being a machinist, Tracy quickly built a steam-away pan, filter-press, and added forced air. Production crept up to 100 gallons. In 1997 came a larger 3'x12' wood fired Grimm and a building expansion up to 25'x30' with a fully equipped kitchen. In addition, another leased woods on vacuum tubing brought tap count up to 450 with production of 160 gallons.

The Powers make candy and cream on request. All sales are on the farm. Theresa works nights, so Tracy does all the boiling and gathering. Future goals include 300 more taps on tubing and a steam-away for the bigger rig. Tracy's love for sugaring is grounded in the challenges to make syrup better, faster and more efficiently. He is always thinking and tinkering.