[Syrupmakers] Something to consider.

[Floyd Boyett]

About two months ago I was contacted by a parent of a 4 H home school group in the Beaumont, Texas area.  She said that they had found out that I made sugar cane syrup the old way and ask if I would consider letting their 4 H home schoolers come out to watch.  I told her that I would and that we would set it up on a Friday if that would be alright.  She told me it would work and that there would be enough parents to supervise the students.  We set the date for Oct. 26.

The weather was perfect and the parents and students started arriving by 7:15am.  They all came to me and introduced themselves as they arrived.  We must have ended up with 35 to 40 students and a total of around 65 in all.  There were students from the Lumberton, Texas area that also heard about the making and they joined us as well.  I have had a couple of bad experiences with kids at syrup makings before but all nine of my grandchildren are home schoolers and the ones that I have been involved with have all been well mannered.  These home schoolers were no exception!  

We kept a nice warm fire ring going until the weather warmed up to the upper 60's.  A cousin showed up and gave mountain dulcimer lessons and a good friend that buds and grafts trees came over and gave tours and talks on budding and grafting of citrus trees.  We also gave hay rides in my old manure wagon and had plenty of pecans for the kids to shell and eat.

I would call the parents and students to the cooker at each stage of the process.  They would gather around and listen and then I would ask them questions and let them ask me questions.  We ended up making 8 1/2 gals. of syrup and all family groups got to take some syrup home.  

The parents told me that when they told their kids that this would be an all day affair that the kids thought it might get boring.  They assured me that not only did the kids not get bored but they had a great time.  During slow times I noticed some students out on the grounds sitting on blankets visiting or doing studies.  Other times they were playing hid and seek or tag.  These kids were great!!

As they started leaving many came to me to thank me for inviting them and some of the girls gave me hugs!

Did I have a great time!? You bet!!!!!  Will I have home schoolers out again next year?  You know it!!!!  I'll even have more for them to do and learn.  Something to consider fellows.

Our mair syrup making will be Nov. 10th.  Have fun making syrup this year and be safe.

Floyd Boyett
Raven Acres Farm 
Kountze, Texas
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