About the Festival
Founded in 1941, the Vermontville Maple Syrup Festival Corporation is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization that exists to promote the production and sale of Michigan-made maple syrup in Eaton and Barry Counties. The festival itself began as a barber shop discussion in 1940 between local syrup producers regarding how to best sell their product.
Vermontville, founded in 1836 by The Rev. Sylvester Cochrane, is a village in western Eaton County home to approximately 800 residents and over 500 maple trees. Vermontville, nearby Nashville, and the surrounding areas are served by Maple Valley Schools, a K-12 public school district established in 1963 and serviced by the Eaton Regional Education Service Agency.
Vermontville Maple Syrup Festival Corporation Officers
| Name | Position | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Steve Hayes | President | 517-242-0458 or 517-667-1344 |
| Tony Pruden | Vice President | 517-881-0453 |
| JoDee Pruden | Secretary | 517-281-2807 |
| Britiney Rumsey | Treasurer | 517-331-3537 |
| Producer Name | Contact | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Vermontville Festival Corp. (Maple Manor) | Steve or MaryAnn Hayes | 517-242-0458 or 517-242-3253 |
| Benedict Family Maple, LLC 9505 Round Lake Rd. Vermontville, MI 49096 |
517-230-5083 | |
| Dixon Farms 7690 W. Lawrence Hwy. Vermontville, MI 49096 |
Ed & Janice Dixon Mark Dixon |
517-213-6591 |
| Haigh’s Sugar House Farm, LLC 6903 S. Lacey Lake Rd. Bellevue, MI 49021 |
Larry Haigh & Family | 269-763-3107 |
| Martin Maple Products Rt. #1, 5720 Brown Rd. Vermontville, MI 49096 |
Merle Martin | 517-231-4841 |
| The Pennock Family / Mari-Way Farms | Rodney Pennock | 517-331-6599 |
| Trails End Maple Syrup 10354 W. Kinsel Hwy. Vermontville, MI 49096 |
Mike & Stephanie Thorne | 517-852-9798 |
| Wilson’s Sugar Bush 9646 Thornapple Lake Rd. Nashville, MI 49073 |
517-852-9193 |
| Event | Contact | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| General Information | Steve or MaryAnn Hayes | 517-667-1344 |
| Talent Show | Sarah Shoemaker | 517-231-4994 |
| 5K Run | Tiffany Blakely | 269-838-4350 |
| Children’s Parade | ||
| Queen’s Court | Christine Terpening | 517-231-3740 |
| Little Miss Maple Syrup Pageant | Kelly Flory & Brittney Flory | |
| Flea Market | Leslie Wagner | 269-816-4431 |
| Puff Dragon Tractor Pull | Rex and Dustin Cook | |
| Arm Wrestling | Shane Hickey | 517-202-6975 |
| Pancake Derby | Rob Trowbridge | 517-726-0221 |
| Vermontville Arts & Craft Show | Cheryl Sheridan | 517-726-0614 |