TRUMBULL COUNTY Family's maple syrup stand is a long tradition at the fair

The exhibit is featured in the Historical Village.
By JAYME RAMSON
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
BAZETTA -- Rain didn't stop one family's trip to the Trumbull County Fair. The Franklins are used to wet weather.
Every spring the family and volunteers brave the elements to produce maple syrup, a tradition that started in the 1920s and has spanned five generations.
This week, the family brought their maple syrup, and the history behind it, to the fair as a part of the Historical Village display.
Their exhibit not only serves as a shelter from unrelenting rain, but as a history lesson and a supply station for some fair vendors.
"For as few people as have been here at the fair, business hasn't been bad at all," Sue Franklin said.
In addition to maple syrup lovers dropping by, one of the pastry vendors bought a gallon of the syrup and a barbecue rib vendor bought some to try and enhance the special sauce he uses.
Helping friends
Ron Franklin also provided maple syrup to volunteers who helped build a new sugar house on his property this past year.
"There's something to be said for making your friends happy and not worrying about the money and the way things work out, that's the way I look at it," he said.
Although Franklin's Tall Timbers, the family production site, is located in Ashtabula, the family has been attending the Trumbull County Fair for years. Ron Franklin is a retired Howland Schools industrial arts teacher and before moving to Ashtabula County, Sue Franklin was a substitute teacher in Trumbull County schools.
Taps up
The family's business has grown substantially.
Two years ago, Tall Timbers had 300 taps. Today, the farm has over 3,000 and hopes for continued growth and more time informing fairgoers about the nuances of making maple syrup.
"The best thing about making maple syrup is that it's basically a family reunion every night," Ron said.
"My name is on it, but it is one of those family operations. We try to get them all involved, and the grandkids even help."
For tours of the facility or for maple syrup, call (440) 812-5784.