Advancing Careers in the Maple Industry

This video was created by Across the Fence, co-produced by UVM Extension and WCAX. View all episodes on the Across the Fence YouTube channel.

Sugaring season is far behind us, but Across the Fence, UVM Extension and WCAX’s long-running program, recently highlighted the Maple Career Development Event that Shelburne Farms hosted in February. 

The event challenged the next generation of maple producers—high school students—to compete in grading, tasting, and installing sap lines, all while learning about the career possibilities in this growing industry. 

Shelburne Farms Market Garden Assistant Manager and UVM graduate student Lynn Wolfe organized the event as part of her graduate project. Vermont teachers were reaching out to UVM Extension with the need for more maple resources for their classrooms, and Lynn’s project took off from there. Lynn is also working to create a new resource for classrooms to prepare high school graduates for jobs in maple sugaring.