The Citizen, 2017-06-15, Page 11THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 2017. PAGE 11.
Freedom Syrup boasts thousands in donations
A growing enterprise
Freedom Syrup, which is situated behind the property of Jeff McGavin just southeast of Walton
along Hullett-McKillop Road, has been growing consistently since it began just a few years
ago. Its architect, Bob Rowe, centre in the red shirt, started the business to donate funds to
the families of wounded warriors and in recent years that donation has climbed to over
$15,000 per season and over $60,000 since it began. Above are the crests of soldiers who lost
their lives in the Afghanistan conflict, to which the syrup production is dedicated. (Fite photo)
By Denny Scott
The Citizen
For the past eight years, Freedom
Maple Syrup has been contributing
to the Families of the Fallen Soldiers
fund and, last year, the organization
marked a tenfold increase in its
annual donation over its first year.
Since its inception eight years ago,
Freedom Syrup has gone from
donating $1,500 a year to more than
10 times that in 2015 and 2016 at
$15,500 and $16,000 respectively.
Between 10 and 12 core volunteers,
as well as anyone who visits the
bush, make between 150 and 160
gallons of syrup annually and sell it
to raise money for the Families of
the Fallen Soldiers fund.
Bob Rowe, a long-standing
member of the organization,
explained that the group first made
syrup in 2010 and had intended on
just providing syrup to friends and
families, but it has grown into
something else.
Rowe said the site where the syrup
is made was the location of a
previously -used sugar shack.
"It was built by Gordon McGavin,
but they quit making syrup there in
1945. Sixty-five years later we
started it up again."
Rowe explained he spoke to Neil
McGavin, Gordon's son about
rebuilding the shack on the property
of Neil's son Jeff.
"We cleared away the old shack
and built it exactly where the
original shack was in 1945," he said.
Eight years ago, Rowe had no idea
that he would be involved in making
maple syrup the way he is now.
"The idea then was to make a bit
of syrup just for fun, for the
experience," he said. "We just
wanted to give away what we made
to family and friends and it was
going to be free. We just wanted to
say we have had the experience of
making the syrup and being in the
bush"
Rowe explains, however, that the
evaporator the group acquired, an
essential part of the syrup -making
process, was able to handle more sap
than what the volunteers tapped.
"In the first year, we tapped 275
trees," he said. "We were going to
make more syrup than we would be
able to give away or eat ourselves."
Rowe said the idea to sell the
syrup to benefit the Families of the
Reminiscing
As part of the annual dedication service at Freedom Syrup
southeast of Walton, guest speakers are brought in to talk
about their military experiences. For two years at the event,
Major (R) Frank A. Golding of Seaforth shared some of his
memories about his time at Royal Canadian Air Force Base
Clinton, now known as Vanastra. Golding was the final
commanding officer of the base prior to its closure. (Denny
Scott photo)
Fallen Soldiers fund came after
that as a result of a workplace
tradition.
"I've always supported the troops
on Friday with Red Friday," he said.
Red Friday is both an organized
charity and a practice. The idea
behind the program is that people
wear red on Fridays to support those
who serve the country through
military service.
"It's a personal thing, and I've
done it for years," he said. "I thought
maybe we could do more for the
troops, so we talked about it in the
bush and that's how we got started."
He said there were many charities
or causes the syrup company could
support, but he felt that the one
organizers chose is important
because it recognizes both those who
are serving, those who have served
and those who paid the ultimate
sacrifice during service.
"I've always supported the troops
on Friday with Red Friday," he said.
Red Friday is both an organized
charity and a practice. The idea
behind the program is that people
wear red on Fridays to support those
who serve the country through
military service.
"It's a personal thing, and I've
done it for years," he said. "I thought
maybe we could do more for the
troops, so we talked about it in the
bush and that's how we got started."
He said there were many charities
or causes the syrup company could
support, but he felt that the one
organizers chose is important
because it recognizes both those who
are serving, those who have served
and those who paid the ultimate
sacrifice during service.
From there, the organization grew.
Capital investments were made
increasing the main line and now the
volunteer group traditionally taps
715 trees annually to hit the target of
150 to 160 gallons of finished maple
syrup product produced by the
company.
"It's a big volunteer organization,"
he said. "It's a forum that allows
people to support the cause and feel
good about what they're doing."
Rowe explained that, on top of the
volunteers at the site on a regular
basis during syrup season, anyone
who shows up may be asked to help
out.
"The rule is that if you visit the
bush and you're there for longer than
a half hour, we will put you to
work," he said.
The joy the group gets from
helping out is partly from supporting
Canada's armed forces and partly
Continued on page 12
Stay Cnnected
to
The Citizen
wherever you are
in the world with an
electronic
Subscription
• Easy access
• Read on your phone, tablet or computer
• Perfect for travellers, students or snowbirds
• Timely reading (no waiting for mail delivery)
s3600
per year
Go to our website and
pay by Pay Pal or come into
the office and pay by cheque or cash
The Citizen
413 Queen St., Blyth 541 Turnberry St., Brussels
519-523-4792 519-887-9114
www.northhuron.on.ca