Be sure to prepare to attend the 2025 IMSA Annual meeting on December 6 in Nashville, IN!
When: December 6, 2025, 8:30am – 3:00pm
Where: Brown County Career Resource Center
260 School House Lane
Nashville, IN 47448
Directions here
Registration: Lunch will be $20/adult and $10/child. Registration must be postmarked by November 15th. Free-will offering for Friday dinner.
Download registration form here.
Agenda & Activities:
- Election of Officers: the terms of four board members are expiring and votes will be taken for the seats currently held by Rick Bollinger, Scott Craft, Andy Hochstedler, and John Smith. The Board is looking for more representation from the south of the state. If you wish to be included as a candidate for a board position, contact David Hinchman 765-621-3628 or Chris Slabaugh 574-354-4552
- Dues Increase to $30 for 2027: A vote will be taken to increase the dues from $25 a year to $30 a year for 2027. Dues will remain $25 for 2026.
- Hydrometer Testing: bring your hydrometer and ensure it is calibrated
- Maple Syrup Contest: Bring a pint of your best and see how it compares—one entry per grade
- Sugar Shack Surplus: Stock up on syrup, candy, maple cream and soda at discount prices
- Vendors: Talk to the pros about your needs: Maple Hollow, Sugar Bush Supplies, Sunrise, The RO Bucket, Winger’s, and Harris
- Speakers and Break-Out Sessions: precision tapping, tubing sanitation, 3/16 tubing, maple sugar, maple sugaring 101, RO for the hobbyist
- Kris Kindel Market: after the meeting walk a couple blocks to the Nashville Christmas Market
Annual Meeting Schedule
Friday, December 5th:
- 1:30 p.m.–5:00 p.m. Precising Tapping Workshop (Meet at Brown County Resource Center and drive in caravan to Smith Sugarbush)
(An activity or those not going in the woods to be announced later) - 6:00 p.m. Fellowship and Dinner (Please RSVP, free will donation)
Saturday, December 6th:
- 7:00 a.m.– 8:30 a.m. Registration (coffee and pastries)
- 8:30 a.m. Deadline for Syrup Contest Submissions
- 8:30 a.m. Opening, Business, Speakers
- 12:00 p.m. Lunch (pulled chicken, mac and cheese, baked beans, coleslaw, Please RSVP)
- 1:00 p.m. Afternoon Session
Keynote Speaker: Mike Rechlin
Future Generations University, Appalachian Program
Friday Field Workshop: Precision Tapping
Description: We have all heard the saying that in the maple business “money is made in the woods.” And, that starts with how you tap a tree. In this workshop we will go over the science behind making the right tapping decisions. It will include taphole placement, drilling the taphole, spout options and tapping in the spout. The workshop will be “hands on” and in the woods.
Saturday Morning Session: Tubing sanitation and why its important
Description: This session will focus on tubing sanitation to increase sap yields and syrup quality. It will be a Power-Point presentation on research done by Future Generations (FGU) and West Virginia State University on microbial growth in sap lines, sanitation practices and their impact on sap yields and syrup quality.
Saturday Afternoon Session: The operation and maintenance of 3/16 tubing systems
Description: This session will be comprised of a series of demonstrations followed by discussions that illustrate key concepts fundamental to the operation and maintenance of 3/16 tubing systems. Specifics will include: the need for slope, sap flow dynamics, how 3/16 systems differ from 5/16 systems with a vacuum pump, internal pressure in trees, and the advantage of hybrid systems to increasing sap flow. The session will introduce a new Guide to the Operation and Maintenance of 3/16 Tubing Systems, produced by FGU.