Native Americans made maple sap into maple sugar long before the Europeans arrived in America. U.S. consumers are demanding more natural, chemical free food sources. Thus, a rebirth of tapping trees for maple syrup in Kentucky. Hitchel Farms started making maple syrup about 5 years and is currently the only maple syrup producer in Ohio Co. 

Maple Day was created as an educational and celebration event centered around how maple syrup is produced. The program is coordinated statewide by the University of Kentucky/Department of Forestry. The Ohio Co. Extension Service also worked to promote the event and assist with the Maple Day functions. The educational content offered is at the host farms discretion.

The Hitchel Family provided educational stations, discussing the procedures, at the “sugar bush”, where maple sap is collected, and in the “sugar shack”, where the sap is processed into maple syrup. Several friends/volunteers also provided a “Sweet Shop”, where products made with maple syrup, such as maple/cinnamon rolls, maple vinegarette, maple granola, various maple cookies and other items were offered.

In 2024, 107 adults/youth from Kentucky and surrounding states visited for the program, with the furthest participants from Nashville, Tennessee.

Maple Day – 2024 was enjoyed by all participants. All participants gained a greater understanding of the maple syrup making process. As one participants stated “I did not realize that the maple syrup you buy in the store is man-made, as compared to “real” maple syrup is just natural sap from the trees”. Three families planned to attend the next Maple School with hopes of making syrup in the future. Hitchel Farms makes around 25 gallon of maple syrup each year, which nets around $3,300 per year.