region late this weekend into the beginning of next week. A LOCAL FAMILY FARM IS BEING RECOGNIZED ON A STATEWIDE STAGE FOR GENERATIONS OF HARD WORK AND INNOVATION. THE PARKER FAMILY MAPLE FARM BEING NAMED NEW YORK STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY’S 2026 BUSINESS OF THE YEAR NBC 5’s Blake McQueary has more THE PARKER FAMILY HAS BEEN MAKING MAPLE SYRUP FOR GENERATIONS…AND NOW THEIR TRADITION IS BEING HONORED AS ONE OF THE BEST IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK THE PARKER FAMILY MAPLE FARM EARNED TOP HONORS from THE NEW YORK STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY…2026 BUSINESS OF THE YEAR THE SUGAR-MAKING IS A FAMILY OPERATION THAT’S NOW MOVING TOWARD ITS FIFTH GENERATION WITH MAPLE SEASON ahead of US…THE PARKER FAMILY is ready to ‘tap in’ as one of THE TOP producing maple operations statewide. AND AS WE ENTER MAPLE SEASON…THE AWARD IS A REMINDER THAT TRADITION AND IN
Parker Family Maple Farms named New York State Agricultural Society’s 2026 Business of the Year
The Maple Farm is entering its fifth generation of family-owned operations
Updated: 5:47 PM EST Jan 29, 2026
A local family farm is being recognized on a statewide stage for generations of hard work and innovation. The Parker Family Maple Farm was named the New York State Agricultural Society’s 2026 Business of the Year.”To receive something like this award is a great way to kind of force us to reflect and realize, like, OK, things are going quite well, apparently,” owner of Parker Family Maple Farms, Laura Parker, said. “It’s really rewarding for us to receive that award and have confirmation that our hard work is paying off and the hard decisions that we’ve had to make over the years were the right decisions.Sugar-making is a family operation that’s now moving toward its fifth generation.”We’ve been here since 1889. I’m the fourth generation, and our children are the fifth generation coming in. They’re stepping back into the business as well,” owner of Parker Family Maple Farms, Michael Parker, said. “It’s just an honor to receive this award and for all the generations before us.”With maple season ahead of us, the Parker Family is ready to tap in as one of the top-producing maple operations statewide.”We’re tapping from about 110,000 taps across our different properties. And from that, we anticipate to make about 60,000 gallons of finished maple syrup,” Laura Parker said. “Which puts us at, I believe, currently the top maple farm in the state of New York in terms of scale and production, as well as on the international scene, we’re within like the top 10 or 20 from Canada and the U.S., in terms of large-scale production.”
WEST CHAZY, N.Y. —
A local family farm is being recognized on a statewide stage for generations of hard work and innovation. The Parker Family Maple Farm was named the New York State Agricultural Society’s 2026 Business of the Year.
“To receive something like this award is a great way to kind of force us to reflect and realize, like, OK, things are going quite well, apparently,” owner of Parker Family Maple Farms, Laura Parker, said. “It’s really rewarding for us to receive that award and have confirmation that our hard work is paying off and the hard decisions that we’ve had to make over the years were the right decisions.
Sugar-making is a family operation that’s now moving toward its fifth generation.
“We’ve been here since 1889. I’m the fourth generation, and our children are the fifth generation coming in. They’re stepping back into the business as well,” owner of Parker Family Maple Farms, Michael Parker, said. “It’s just an honor to receive this award and for all the generations before us.”
With maple season ahead of us, the Parker Family is ready to tap in as one of the top-producing maple operations statewide.
“We’re tapping from about 110,000 taps across our different properties. And from that, we anticipate to make about 60,000 gallons of finished maple syrup,” Laura Parker said. “Which puts us at, I believe, currently the top maple farm in the state of New York in terms of scale and production, as well as on the international scene, we’re within like the top 10 or 20 from Canada and the U.S., in terms of large-scale production.”