WIDGER MAPLE PRODUCTS
Member Profile
by Terry Coleman

Bob and Anita Widger are a third generation sugaring family. Their home is in Gaylord, MI which is a beautiful area of our state. Bob's grand-dad, Henry Widger, came from England to New York and then to Gaylord in 1900. There he purchased 120 acres and began farming. He began a sugaring operation between 1910 and 1920 on the farm and when his son Carl was old enough, he worked in the operation as second generation. Carl's son Bob now has the operation on the same farm which is a centennial property. Bob's father passed away in 1991, but worked in the bush until 1989. He was a member of the MMSA and attended early meetings in Petoskey.

The farm is now only 80 acres with about 20 in woodlot. It has been groomed to be predominantly maple. The operation has gone from buckets to sap-saks to vacuum tubing and from a couple hundred taps to 1000 now. The building has gone from a primitive gas lit shanty in the woods to a larger farm building to a 30' x 60' pole building with kitchen built in 1995.

The boiling process is still done with wood. Lots and lots of wood! Two English tin 3'x7' flat pans were used until the early 80's when they were replaced with identical custom made stainless flat pans with custom arches. They are used in conjunction with a hooded 6' x 10' Grimm flue pan with home-made pre-heater. One of the flat pans is also hooded. Syrup is moved from one flat pan to the other by siphon system. Finish batch size is about 35 gallons at a time. Although Bob says it may be an old fashioned method and the syrup a little darker, he feels that the syrup flavor is enhanced and his customers must agree!

Bob and Anita share all of the sugaring duties and they love the vacuum tubing which eliminates gathering. The Widgers sell only through one local supermarket and at their home. A normal year is around 180 gallons. The 2000 season totaled 20 gallons on one small run!

Bob said that the family tradition is what keeps him sugaring, besides just plain enjoying it. Plans for the future could include a more conventional evaporator set-up and better marketing of their maple coated nuts which they have been perfecting for some time.

To visit the farm, take 1- 75 to exit 282 at Gaylord. Go west three lights to Murner. Turn right and go 2-1/2 miles north -look for name on mailbox, (2617 Murner).