The 2010 Maple Fest is set for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 14 Snavely's Sugar Shack, 9409 E. TR 138, four miles north of Republic between SR 18 and SR 19.
Paul and Evelyn Snavely's grandchildren mark the seventh generation who have produced maple syrup on the family farm.
The farm has 1,300 taps in eight woods and all sap is collected with buckets. It takes around eight hours to fill a bucket with sap from a maple tree, and 40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of maple syrup. The sap is collected in four-wheelers with tanks, and then taken to a stainless steel, oil-fired evaporator where the sap is processed, boiled and canned when it reaches the maple syrup stage.
"To help with this all the work that goes on," Mrs. Snavely said, "and also the hosting of the Maple Fest, we often call on family and friends."
Maple syrup takes a lot of hard work to produce and the Maple Fest has many things for people to see and do.
New to the 2010 Maple Fest is a heated shop where visitors can enjoy a fresh pancake breakfast. There is new help this year in the kitchen, with Seneca Lodge 790 of Republic to serve pancakes, sausage and ice cream that can be topped with fresh maple syrup.
"All of our maple syrup is 100-percent natural, with no other ingredients added," Mrs. Snavely said.
The 3R 4-H Club is to help serve the meal. Prices are $6.50 for adults and $3.50 for children 12 and younger.
To get back to the camp, visitors can choose to walk or ride a shuttle called the Maple Fest Express. When they arrive at the camp, tours of the 20-acre woods will be taking place, where people may witness the collection and process from maple sap to maple syrup.
There also are opportunities to visit the 400-plus year old white oak tree the Snavelys have in their woods.
"This is a chance for people to have fun and get out of the house," Mrs. Snavely said. "They will be in the fresh air and into the open woods."
Dave and Ilene Fruth of Carey are to give demonstrations on candy making. Maple cream, maple candies, maple-flavored popcorn, maple sugar and maple spread will be made at the camp. Visitors can purchase the candies, as well as 100-percent natural, fresh maple syrup during the Maple Fest.
For more information, contact the Seneca County Convention and Visitors Bureau, 114 S. Washington St., Tiffin. The phone number there is (419) 447-5866.
