By Stephen Smoot
The temperatures fell. The wind howled. The forecasters shared dire predictions of many inches of snow up and down the South Branch Valley and surrounding areas.
But the fast moving system graced the ground with only a few inches, not nearly enough to keep residents and visitors alike from checking out Pendleton’s maple offerings.
Every year, the West Virginia Maple Syrup Producers Association sets aside two days to celebrate the production of maple based products across the state. This year those dates fall on Feb. 17 and March 16. Producers do not simply sell their wares, but often also demonstrate at least some aspects of the production of syrup or other products.
M and S Maple, a Mozer based farm owned by Mark and Sarah Kimble, has operated as a family business for 12 years. Mark Kimble, however, has worked with maple in some fashion or another for much of his life.
“I used to tap the trees as a kid to get sap water out of them,” he shared.
The family started producing syrup well before starting the business, honing their craft over the years to offer a variety of products of high quality. Production started at the beginning with 20 taps and a cast iron kettle. Now the farm uses approximately 2,100 taps feeding a modern sugar house.
Over the course of the day, Mark Kimble explained that “at times we were packed, at other times, there was no one here,” but “we did pretty good.” He also said the farm hosted “a pretty big group from DC.”
Maple Days also allowed newer businesses an opportunity to tap into interest shown by both visitors and natives alike. Elevated Grounds, owned by Kevin and Tiffany Rawson, held a soft opening on Saturday at their location on Main Street in Franklin.
One of the inspirations for starting the business came from Tiffany Rawson’s grandfather, who passed away a year ago. Kevin Rawson shared that “he was a very successful business owner. We actually named our LLC in memory of him.”
He stated also that he had a long-term desire “to own a business in the community I grew up in,” while his wife had always wanted to own a coffee shop. “We just put our dreams together,” he said.
The Rawsons received encouragement from the Mon Forest Towns association to integrate their opening plans with Maple Days. “They wanted to see us succeed by tapping into the tourist side,” he explained.
Tiffany Rawson added that “for me, Mon Forest was the general start of that idea.”
Elevated Grounds obtained maple water from Cool Hollow Maple Farm, aptly located in Sugar Grove, then, as Kevin Rawson explained “I took that maple water and made a maple cold brew” coffee.
They also sold tasty maple treats from Claire’s Cake Company in Monterey, Virginia. They “made all these maple pastries,” he said, adding that the shop also sold maple pecan scones and a number of other products.
M and S Maple also offered a broad variety of products that originated from their own trees. These products included syrup, maple sugar, maple cream, maple cotton candy, and much more.
They even crafted maple based rye and whiskey, aged in barrels for six months.
Mark Kimble said that production was “a little bit better than last year, but not by much.” The night temperatures in their area tended to stay in the mid-30s while the days saw the mercury climb into the 60s, too warm for optimal production.
And one need not wait all year for Maple Days to enjoy either establishment. Elevated Grounds plans to hold a grand opening in mid-March.
Mark Kimble says to visitors that “if you see smoke” from the production process “come on by.”
