Award winners holding plaques, posing for photographs.

Annual Maple Awards

VMSMA's Annual Maple Awards

Each year, VMSMA’s Annual Maple Awards recognize outstanding individuals, families, and businesses who exemplify best practices and leadership in Vermont’s maple community. Members are encouraged to submit nominations for deserving sugar makers, with honorees celebrated at the Annual Conference for their contributions to quality, food safety, education, and the promotion of pure Vermont maple syrup.


 

Honoring Our Members, Recognizing Best Practices

Any time is a great time for our members to nominate a Vermont sugar maker for one of our Maple Awards! VMSMA honors individuals, families and businesses from our maple community in three categories each year - just in time to be recognized at our Annual Winter Conference. We'll provide a link when it's time to let us know who the Board should consider for next year's awards!

Watch the 2025 VMSMA Awards Ceremony

Group of people smiling, one holding a plaque, indoors with wooden panel background.

Sugar Maker of the Year

The Sugar Maker of the Year Award is presented annually to a Vermont sugar maker and is nominated by the Vermont Sugar Makers Association Board of Directors plus any standing committee chairs not on the Board. The VMSMA Board selects a Vermont sugar maker, individual, or family who sets a good example for other sugar makers to follow in cleanliness, food safety and production practices. In addition, nominees for this award help the maple industry by participating in county and statewide fairs to promote and educate future sugar makers and the general public on the benefits of pure Vermont maple syrup.

2026 Sugar Maker OF THE YEAR: JASON GAGNE, SWANTON VT

 

 



 

Two men smiling, one holding a plaque, standing indoors.

Vermont Maple Person of the Year

This award is presented by the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers’ Association Board to someone whose work benefits the entire maple industry and who may or may not be a sugar maker themselves.

2026 Vermont Maple Person of the Year: KENN HASTINGS, CORNWALL VT
Two people holding trophies in front of a Vermont maple syrup banner.

Sumner Williams Lifetime Achievement Award

This award, previously called the “President’s Award” was renamed in January 2000 in memory of Sumner Williams, then assistant director of the UVM Proctor Maple Research Center. Sumner was a sugar maker, a researcher, an educator and a true friend to the maple industry. The Sumner Hill Williams Memorial Cup is presented each year to honor an individual for outstanding service and dedication to the maple industry.

2026 Sumner Williams Lifetime Achievement Award: BETTE LAMBERT & DAVID SILLOWAY,  RANDOLPH CENTER VT