New York's First Maple Tap held at Parker Family Maple Farm

CHAZY | The first tap marked a statewide start to Maple Season in New York. This year, the ceremonial first spile was set into a maple tree at Parker Family Maple Farm near their sugarhouse. Agricultural & Markets Commissioner Richard Ball was there with Michael and Laura Parker and Kristina Parker, and their children, and Assemblymember Michael Cashman. Some 35 students from local school Future Farmers of America (FFA) clubs -- wearing official FFA jackets and ties -- attended the event. The first tap kicks off a month of maple celebrations across the state. "We're so honored to be the host for the tapping ceremony this year," Laura Parker said. The signature tribute comes about six weeks since Parker Family Maple was named 2026 Agri-Business of the Year by the New York State Agricultural Society. "As many folks around here know, we've been here since 1889, producing and selling maple syrup to our local community," Laura said. "Over the years we've grown so we are now one of the largest maple producing farms in the State of New York," she said, drawing a long applause. "Maple is a huge part of the culture in this area and traditional. Many families have a history and still are producing maple syrup. We've got deep roots in this area, and really hope we can encourage that going into the future. "We love to share the wonder of maple season in the spring with everyone during Maple Weekends. The last two weekends in March are Maple Weekends." Parker's has close to 120,000 taps on high vacuum, modern tubing, Laura said. "We still do love to tap our maple trees with some of the old buckets that were part of our farm back in the day." Laura introduced Commissioner Ball to the farm, who recalled his early years on a dairy farm and the fun part of spring, he said, was making maple syrup. He recalled their team of horses pulling the sled into the sugar woods. "We're talking about the first crop of the year here in New York State and it's a pretty sweet thing." He congratulated Parkers for being named Agribusiness of the Year this year. YOUNG FARMERS Ball introduced the Northern Adirondack Central School FFA (NAC) club and the CV-TEC FFA club. "Does everybody know that New York State FFA is the fastest growing FFA in the United States of America?" he asked. "Six years ago, I challenged the FFA in New York State to add 100 more chapters, and they exceeded that. By the convention last year we had 106 new chapters. We also challenged them to double the number of Ag teachers in the state and they did that. FFA is our future, it's our leadership, this is our next generation of people." Last year was the 100th anniversary of FFA, Ball said. "And I was thinking about it. The FFA started at the New York State Fairgrounds 100 years ago. Think about what being in agriculture was like 100 years ago," he said. "It took all day to make a living. "But the young people who gathered together in Syracuse to think about their futures and where they wanted to go, they turned into farmers, they turned into state leaders, they turned into people who made a difference. And so the challenge for all of you guys," he said, looking toward the big group of students, "is to be those kind of people. "We believe in FFA, we believe in 4-H, we believe in Ag in the classroom, we believe in manners. This is where the next leadership in agriculture is going to come from." MAPLE IS THE FIRST CROP Ball noted that maple is the first crop that farms and producers take in each year. "It's not just about the largest operation right here. It's not just about the fact that we have more trees tapped in New York than anywhere else in the country. It's not just because we have over 2,000 maple producers. "It is about a family, it's about a business, it's about economics. We do over $30 million a year in maple in New York State. It's an important part of who NYS Agriculture really is." Ball said there is strong support for the maple industry in the budget presented in January by Gov. Kathy Hochul, with resources to advance new ideas for ways to use maple products. "We've got one of the best budgets for agriculture this year," he said, expressing confidence in the support from the state senate and assembly. Having attended a recent meeting of state Ag commissioners in Washington, D.C., Ball said it is safe to say that there is a lot of uncertainty across the country, "tariffs, trade, economics, where we are selling our products: that's still a little fuzzy," he said. But coming home, he said he realized, "I don't have to worry where we are with agriculture. We've got decades of good programs. We have one of the best agricultural communities in the country. We've got people like the Parker family that have been doing this and are really good at it." New York ranks in the top ten in over 30 commodities, he said. "And frankly, in New York State, we've got the support of the legislature, we've got the support of the governor to do the things we need to do." Parker Family Maple is part of the NYS Grown and Certified program, Ball said, indicating that the certification means farm operations are managed with safety and stewardship in mind. Cashman echoed the importance of agriculture business in the northern district. "No farms, no food," he said. "It's not just a North Country tradition that we're experiencing. It is about a livelihood, a multi-generational livelihood. "What you've done and continue to commit to is an inspiration by example," Cashman said to the Parker family standing together under a maple tree. "You lean in with heart and hands, and you do so much. Thank you for everything you continue to do." Michael Parker fired up the tapping drill and Cashman set the spile in place. Parker's young son Thomas tipped upside down to check for a drip, but the morning's cold meant the sap might wait another day. Commissioner Ball set the bucket under the spile, anticipating a good run for maple this season.

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New York's First Maple Tap held at Parker Family Maple Farm

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