White Feather Farm’s annual maple sugaring celebration returns on Saturday, March 8, with a blend of hands-on syrup production, cultural storytelling, and community activities. This year’s event features award-winning Mohawk storyteller and musician Bear Fox (Kenkiohkoktha), whose traditional songs and stories will highlight the significance of maple sugaring in Mohawk culture.
The half-day event runs from 9am to 1pm at White Feather Farm in Saugerties, beginning with a pancake breakfast from 9am to 10:30am. Sugaring demonstrations at the farm’s Sugar Shack will take place at 9:30am, 10am, and noon, offering attendees a chance to learn about the syrup-making process and explore home sugaring techniques.
“This celebration represents the heart of White Feather Farm’s mission,” says Executive Director Dr. Marcos Stafne. “Through hands-on learning and sustainable agriculture practices, we’re not just making maple syrup—we’re cultivating meaningful connections between people, the land, and seasonal traditions. Having Bear Fox share stories and songs adds a unique lens to explore this cherished spring gathering that brings our community together.”
At 11am in the Broken Wing Barn, Fox will present a storytelling and musical performance focusing on the role of maple syrup in Mohawk tradition. “Through traditional songs and stories, we’ll share how our people received maple syrup and other cultural traditions that shape Mohawk language and heritage,” says Fox, whose Mohawk name, Kenkiohkoktha, translates to “I’m at the back of a crowd of people.” A multi-award winner at the Native American Music Awards, Fox’s songs are taught in schools at Akwesasne and used in ceremonies worldwide.
In addition to storytelling and sugaring demonstrations, visitors can take part in a collaborative maple mural project, follow a self-guided scavenger hunt across the farm’s 66-acre landscape, and shop at a pop-up farm stand featuring organic produce.
A Celebration of Maple Sugaring and Stories with Bear Fox is supported in part by the New York State Council on the Arts and the Ulster Savings Community Foundation. Tickets are available on a sliding scale from $15 to $50, with children under six admitted for free. Pre-registration is recommended as space is limited. Programs will take place rain or shine.
White Feather Farm, a nonprofit certified organic farm and learning center, focuses on fostering connections between people, agriculture, and environmental stewardship.
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This article appears in February 2025.
