Two people in orange hoodies working with metal equipment in a workshop.

Meet a Sugar Maker & Instructor: Sam Nijensohn

As part of our series highlighting members across the state, VMSMA visited North Country Career Center’s Natural Resources students as they hosted their annual spring educational programming for second graders.

Whiteboard with handwritten workshop agenda and notes.

I first met Sam Nijensohn and the students in his Natural Resources program at the Orleans County Maple Producers Annual Meeting in January. The guys welcomed me to their table and shared stories about their accomplishments in timber sports. Not only were they busy high school students, they were also putting in time for NCCC’s sugaring activities, their family’s sugar bushes, and occasionally stepping up to provide forestry services to the community. At one point the guys were huddled around a cell phone. When I asked what was so exciting, they sheepishly shared they were trying to identify “a really cool tree”. I was so impressed with their commitment to our working lands, I asked to visit during the season and highlight their program!

On March 30th Sam Nijensohn, instructor at North County Career, along with his dedicated and good-humored students in the Natural Resources program, put on nearly two hours of educational programming for more than 40 second-grade students. The guys had practiced delivering their content for two weeks and created interactive stations for the students. From a kid-friendly presentation on why we tap our trees, to candy making, and some friendly competition with tossing tubing, the kids were rapt with curiosity. No small feat for 8 year olds. The NCCC students did this all while actively boiling their own sap in the sugar house! I followed up on the lively visit with some questions for Sam.

Red life jackets hanging in a row on green lockers.

VMSMA: What is the history of sugaring on your campus?

SAM: We’ve been sugaring since 2016. I started here in January of 2015 so we didn't develop the sugaring program that year, but much of the initial setup was done with my seniors in 2016 that I had as juniors in the winter/spring of 2015. They were a good crew.

VMSMA: What's your favorite part of teaching about maple production and practices?

SAM: So many reasons I love teaching maple! Sugaring really drives home the importance of good stewardship of our resources. Producing a food crop is very satisfying for the students as well. As a teacher, sugaring also hits upon so many transferable skills. No matter what, the students come away proud of what they make and confident in their abilities. They also develop a real connection to Vermont’s tradition of sugarmaking and to the resource itself. The community and business aspects are extremely valuable, too.

Note attached to blue plastic container.

VMSMA: What are you all up to this spring? I understand you’ve won some awards?

SAM: FFA State convention next month in Randolph is a busy time for us. We won the FFA VT State Forestry event last year and went to Indianapolis this year with the winning team to compete in Nationals. This year I will have students competing in Forestry, Maple, and Safe Tractor Operation at the FFA convention. We will also compete in TimberSports and Game of Logging. All of that is next month, it will be busy!

VMSMA: What do you want sugarmakers to understand about the next generation of producers?

SAM: This upcoming generation is full of fine hardworking young folk that are ready to continue the Vermont tradition of making the world's best maple syrup.

 

If you’re curious to learn more about North Country Career Center’s programming for the students in your life, visit https://nc3.ncsuvt.org/programs/natural-resources

 

Special thanks to all the students I met in the Natural Resources program!