FIRST CROP

Hi, I am Larry Haigh and I am honored to be serving as President of the Michigan Maple Syrup Association for the year 2000.

Another year has come and gone as well as another century. Also, another Michigan Maple Syrup Association Annual Meeting has passed and what a fine one it was. We were blessed with good weather, other than being colder than cold. The speakers were all very informative and did the usual great job.

A meeting like this just does not happen automatically. It takes a lot of hard work by many devoted people. We would like to take this opportunity to say a great big THANK YOU to everyone who made this meeting successful. The Board members did a fantastic job as they always do. Steve Youdes and his crew did great at organizing and judging the syrup and candy contest. The results are listed elsewhere in this Newsletter. We need to say thanks to Russ Kidd for all his help with the meeting and for always being around to help keep the Board on track. I want to thank the Arnold family and my mother, Joyce Haigh, for helping with registration. Jean Maday put a lot of time and effort in putting together the history booklet. Thanks Jean. I also want to take this time to give a special thanks to my wife Karen for all her help and support with registration. Karen has also been very helpful and supportive the past five years while I served as Treasurer.

This year we honored five people with a certificate and lifetime membership. They are: Clyde and Luella Esch, Frank and Sally Majszak, George and Helen Fogle, LeRoy and Charlotte Worden and Joyce Haigh. Congratulations to all these folks.
We need to thank retiring Board member Marvin Besteman for serving on the Board for the past six years. Marvin and Dee Besteman were in charge of the suppliers' displays and did a super job. We would like to welcome Roger VandeBunte to the Board. Roger and his brother Bob operate a 2200 tap operation in Allegan County.

The Board officers for this year are:

President-Larry Haigh
Vice President-Jean Maday
Treasurer-John Anton
Secretary-Brian Vissers

The Board members chair various committees to address the business of the Association. These action groups also include Association members to assist
in the various functions. The following is the Committee and Chair for the year. Please find a group that you have an interest in, then call the Chair and become involved.
Promotion-Brian Vissers
Legislative-Mary Douglass
Fall Tour & Registration-Craig Arnold
Maple Syrup Contest-Steve Youdes
Constitution & By-Laws-Brian Vissers
Nominations-Jean Maday
Annual Meeting-Larry Haigh
Membership-Roger VandeBunte
Honorarium-John Anton
Newsletter-Cathi Bates
Sale Items-Cathi Bates
Budget & Audit-John Anton
Supplier Display-Roger VandeBunte

I am very excited about this year. I believe that we are enjoying a new interest in Maple Syrup, Candy, Cream and related products. Sales are strong and we are seeing a lot more interest in maple products all around the state. We are seeing new people joining our Association and young people are coming on board or continuing on in family operations. We ended 1999 with nearly 200 members; my goal is to see us top that in the year 2000.

I would like to remind you that there are two major festivals in Michigan celebrating Maple. The Vermontville and Shepherd Maple Festivals are both being held April 28-29, 2000. I am a bit biased toward Vermontville because we are active there. Both are good events with much of the proceeds going back into the community.

As I write this, we here in the lower counties are under a winter storm warning. Several inches of snow with the chance of sleet and freezing rain are predicted in the next 24 hours. The bitter cold we experienced at Clare has continued to keep us close to the fire, yet the days are getting longer and the weatherman gives us hints of warmer weather in the coming week. With that in mind many of us will be heading to the woods. Please remember to work safely and enjoy the wonders that God has given us.
Plans for the Fall Tour are well under way. It will be held in the thumb area Saturday, September 23, 2000. Craig and Sandy Arnold will be hosting and organizing the event. Next year's annual Meeting is all set for January 20, 2000. We hope to see you all at each of these events.

Larry Haigh, President
Michigan Maple Syrup Association