12/6/08

Garry Sink, left, President of the Indiana Maple Syrup Association presents the organization's 2008 Outstanding Service Award to Larry Yoder of Yoder's Sugar Bush, Huntertown. The presentation took place at the association's annual meeting held in Columbia City on December 6, 2008. Photo-Dave Hamilton IMSA

Yoder Receives Outstanding Service Award

Larry Yoder, retired Goshen College professor and co-manager of the maple sugar camp at The Yoder Farm on Chapman Rd, received this year's Outstanding Service Award from the Indiana Maple Syrup Association during the group's annual meeting held December 6 in Columbia City.

The Indiana Maple Syrup Association is an organization of about 100 Hoosier maple syrup producers who make this natural product available for all to enjoy.

Yoder, whose service spans the past two decades, was recognized for his roles in the organization as an officer, director, newsletter editor, webmaster, and delegate to the North American Maple Syrup Council.  In addition, Yoder served on the Indiana Department of Health's state task force that developed state-wide inspection guidelines for Indiana maple syrup producers.

Each spring, family members and area volunteers join with the Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center of Goshen College to provide elementary students with a day-long, hands-on experience in maple syrup making at the Yoder Sugar Bush near Huntertown.

Some 1100 students are scheduled for Sugar Bush 2009, set to begin in mid February.