The Potter Farm
by Terry Coleman
Member Profile Editor

Steven and Susan Whitman of Lapeer are continuing a tradition on their farm that started in the 1930’s. The farm that the Whitman's purchased in 1988 belonged to Susan's great-grandfather and later to her grandfather. The farm originally was over 200 acres and is currently 101 acres. It was enrolled in the American Tree Farm program in the 1940's. Syrup was made there from the 1930's through 1971, when Susan's grandfather sugared his last season

After purchasing the farm in 1988, a relative gave them a glass quart of syrup made on the farm in 1971. The syrup was the color of road tar and 17 years old, but Steve and Sue ate it! They said it was really good (Ugh!) and they were hooked. The farm has 65 wooded acres, but only five acres have the maples needed to tap. In 1989 and 1990, they hung 250 buckets and hauled their sap to Bob Nelson's operation for boiling. Gathering was a killer because the trees were higher than the road so they became avid at sliding downhill with two full gathering pails.

In 1991 a used 3x10, wood fired, King evaporator was purchased from one of their neighbors near Scottville, MI The original 12x16 sugar shack was still in the woods and an extra 16x16 was added to it. All taps were switched from buckets to tubing, which ran right to the sap house One hundred taps on Sue's father's property were also added and the sap trucked over. The tubing was all gravity until three years ago when vacuum was added. Help at syrup time comes from friends at work, church youth and Susan's father. All finishing is done right on the evaporator. The Whitman's did not sugar in the 2001 season due to some severe windstorm damage to the woodlot and tubing. This year they will be back in business

A good share of Potter Farm's syrup is purchased and resold by a regular vendor at the Flint Farmers Market. The rest goes to relatives and coworkers. Steve says he loves carrying on such an old tradition and especially showing kids what it's all about. Future plans include moving the mainline from tree trunks to posts and heavy cutting of the abundant Ironwood trees in the bush, which are heavy competitors for the minerals maple trees thrive on.

This farm was featured on fall tour two years ago, but if you missed it, go East on 60 from Davidson to the Alba exit. Turn right and go to the stop sign. Turn left and go 1-1/2 miles to the stop sign (Hadley Rd). Turn left
and the farm is 1/2 mile on the right. Address is 1395 Hadley Road.