Maberly Ag Society gets syrup festival in before the skies opened up

Craig Bakay | Apr 18, 2018

Paul Pospisil, president of the Maberly Agricultural Society, was optimistic last Saturday morning as the 26th annual Maberly Maple Syrup Festival was getting underway.

“We’re blessed with the weather holding,” he said.

Outside, one of the worst April storms on record was building steam.

Nevertheless, the pancakes and syrup were being served up, and baked goods were being sold.

“This is our 26th year for this,” Pospisil said. “The brunch is one of three fundraisers each year for the Maberly Fair (the other two being the Ham & Bean Dinner in February and the other the Pie in the Sky pie sale).”

The fundraisers are necessary, Pospisil said, because of how much it actually costs to put on a fair.

“The Maberly Fair costs about $15,000,” he said. “We bring in about $2,500 at the gate and another $500 or so in entry fees.

“The fundraisers bring in $1,500 - $2,000 each and we have people canvassing and some donations so by the time the fair rolls around, we have enough funds.”

The first Maple Syrup Festival was held at the home of (former South Sherbrooke Reeve) Carl Ferguson.

“There was no running water at the first ones,” Pospisil said. “And you know the Ham & Bean Dinner used to be part of the Winter Carnival.

“But we had to end the Winter Carnival because Eastern Ontario is not the place for stable weather conditions.”

But, as the weather outside was worsening, Pospisil waxed philosophical.

“About a quarter of the directors on the Maberly Ag Society are in their 80s,” he said. “But the more you age, the longer you live.

“And we get lots of help like Dave Yerxa over there (who was also signing up people for his swimathon the last Monday in May in support of Community Living North Frontenac — call 613-279-2343 or 613-390-2343 to sponsor).