Something for Everyone!

Maple Syrup and Maple Products Contest

Exhibit Hall

“The Best of Vermont ”

Click here for a list of the 2007 Vermont Maple Festival Winners!

The Maple Syrup and Maple Products contest, which is held annually at the maple exhibit hall, is the largest maple contest in Vermont . The winners of this contest deserve to be recognized as having made the “Best of Vermont,” a laudable achievement in a state already know for the outstanding quality of its maple products. The maple syrup contest will include all 4 Vermont table grades: Vermont Fancy, Medium Amber, Dark Amber, and Vermont B.

Vermont Maple Sugarmakers take justifiable pride in their products. They treasure the results of their labors in the sugar woods and in the sugarhouse - the sparkling clear maple syrup - just the right thickness - the superb flavor for which Vermont is famous. Every batch must meet the standards of clarity, color, density and flavor that are set out by Vermont law. Samples are compared with a grading kit to determine grade color, with a hydrometer or similar instrument to check density, and finally the sugarmaker tastes the syrup to make certain that the flavor matches the color and the grade. And although all of the tests are necessary to assure quality that is worthy of being labeled Pure Vermont Maple Syrup, it is that final flavor check that hints to the sugarmaker that perhaps this batch is an award winner! Saved in a pint jar in the freezer, the syrup will be delivered on the appointed day to the Vermont Maple Festival judges, where all syrups entered are carefully evaluated by an experienced panel. Blue ribbons are awarded to those who qualify, and one entrant is chosen to be superior in each grade. Then, suspense mounts as the most outstanding syrup is announced at the Festival Maple Banquet - Best of Show receives the coveted C. Blake Roy award!

Another special Maple Festival prize, established by the Franklin County Sugarmakers', is granted in memory of Cleon Gillilian, a noted sugarmaker and long-time Festival volunteer, who was killed in 2005 in a woods accident. Cleon was frequently the recipient of awards for the outstanding quality of his maple syrup. It is for that reason that a $50 prize has been established in his name for the best Vermont Fancy maple syrup. The award, which recognizes excellence in sugarmaking and remembers Cleon's selfless volunteerism, is made annually at the banquet, and is a way to honor the memory of one of the Festival's most faithful workers.

Visit the display of maple exhibit hall and you will see the some of the finest examples of sugarmakers’ craft.

Maple products that are judged include Sugar Cakes, Maple Cream, Maple Granulated Sugar, Pure Maple Fudge and Retail Gift Package. All maple products are evaluated according to the highest standards of excellence and the winner of each category will be selected, along with the “Best of show for Maple Products.”

The Maple Exhibit Hall, where the Contests are located, is in the Bellows Free Academy Cafeteria, off of Fairfield Street, Number 6 on your map. The Exhibit Hall is Handicapped Accessible, and a parking is located adjacent to the Cafeteria.

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Something for Everyone!

2008 EXHIBIT HALL MAPLE PRODUCTS CONTEST

April 25, 26 and 27

Maple Syrup and Products Contests
All maple syrup entries require one pint containers, all other classes are to be in the quantity indicated. We ask that no identifying labels or private label containers be used for your contest entries. All maple syrup entries must be graded by the entrant. Contest entrants must be residents of Vermont.

Class and Product

Maple Syrup, Vermont Fancy

Maple Syrup, Grade A Medium

Maple Syrup, Grade A Dark

Maple Syrup, Grade B

Pure Maple Sugar Cakes, 5 small cakes

Pure Maple Cream, 8 oz. container

Pure Maple Fudge, may contain nuts, 8 oz.

Pure Indian Sugar, 8 oz. (Made from Grade A Dark Amber)

Best Retail Gift Package (Should consist of 3 items in a gift package: 1) a Vermont maple syrup, 2)  a food product containing Vermont maple syrup, and 3) some other Vermont food product. To be scored on visual appeal, originality, and promotion of Vermont maple).

Rules and Entry Procedures
Entering the Maple Syrup and Maple Products Contest is easy! Pick out your best 2008 Syrups, Maple Cream, Candy, Fudge, and favorite Retail Gift Pack, and prepare to enter the contests at the 42nd Annual Vermont Maple Festival.  (Be sure to follow the instructions for types of items to be included in the Retail Gift Pack.).

Getting your entries to St. Albans and the 2008 edition of the Vermont Maple Festival: Entries can be delivered to the Festival Exhibit Hall (BFA Cafeteria, (off of Fairfield Street in St. Albans) on Thursday, April 24 from 1 to 5 p.m. only.

Entries can be delivered to the following UVM Extension offices UVM Extension office no later than Wednesday, April 23rd:

Middlebury
Rutland
Morrisville
Newport
St. Johnsbury
South Burlington
St. Albans
Berlin

Other delivery places:
White River Junction: FSAS Agency Office, 28 Farm Vu Drive Westfield: Couture's Maple Shop, Route 100
Please note: there will be no pickup in Brattleboro this year.

Entries may also be shipped by mail or UPS to the Vermont Maple Festival, c/o UVM Extension, 278 South Main Street, St. Albans, VT 05478 to arrive no later than noon on Thursday, April 24.

Entry Tags: Tags must be completed by the contestant before leaving the entry. Entry Tags will be available at each pick up point and the Maple Festival Exhibit Hall. Entry tags must be completed by the exhibitor and the correct contest class noted. The festival assumes no responsibility for error by exhibitors. All entries become the property of the Festival and no containers or dishes can be returned to the exhibitor (Except for class 9 in maple products). Syrup containers will not be returned.

Entries per Farm: Maple syrup or product entries can be made in the name of any employee or family member, but absolutely no more than one entry per class per farm will be accepted.

Violation of this rule section may result in disqualification of all the contestant? s entries.

Judging: All entries will be judged by a team of judges on Thursday evening, April 24 beginning at 5 p.m. No one is permitted in the judging area during judging (except for the judges and their assistants). All contest rules must be followed exactly and decisions of the judges are final. Contestants will be notified of the reason for any disqualification by the contest chair. Only pure Vermont maple syrup may be used in the preparation of any entry.

Awards: All entries judged to be excellent, in each class, will receive a Blue Ribbon and $10. Award of Merit winners in each class will be presented an additional $15 and a rosette. Presentations are made at the Festival Banquet on Saturday evening.

The Best of Show winner in the Maple Syrup Contest is chosen from Class winners. The winner shall receive a special $50 award from the Franklin County Maple Cooperative in memory of C. Blake Roy.

The Best Vermont Fancy Maple Syrup shall receive a special prize of $50.00, awarded by Franklin County Sugarmakers, in memory of Cleon Gillilian.