88-year-old maple industry stalwart still going strong

A senior citizen woodcutter who has spent decades chopping trees in the maple syrup industry has confirmed that he will not be stopping any time soon.

Roger Kennison owned a piece of land surrounded by sugar maples in Westfield, Vermont, USA. He estimates that his family has been making maple syrup for over a century. The firewood is used for cooking down sap at the sugar house. The sap boils down into a concentrate that becomes 100% pure maple syrup.

Kennison abandoned the old sugar house for a modern facility. After his wife developed dementia, he moved from the new location closer to home, where he still welcomes a steady stream of local customers.

The local legend and his wife Jeanine had met when they were teens. Jeanine has now passed away, but the maple industry veteran has no intention of shutting down the splitter any time soon.

He told the WCAX 3 media platform:

“It keeps me going at my age. I feel good. I had a good life.”

You’ll find evidence of Vermont’s rich heritage in maple syrup all over the state, including in Westfield. Couture’s Maple Shop and Bed & Breakfast is an example of the family tradition that runs through the local maple syrup industry. Jacques and Pauline Couture, their children, and their grandchildren run the farm and retail space, which offers four rooms of accommodation.

The Couture’s farmhouse dates all the way back to 1892, and with Pauline at the helm, the family kitchen is there to serve up made-to-order meals for guests.