By Isabella Susino | Adirondack Harvest Program Lead
Adirondack Harvest member Parker Family Maple Farm is the New York State Agricultural Society’s 2026 Business of the Year. The maple farm is now in its fifth generation of ownership, with over 1,500 acres, 100,000 taps and 60,000 gallons of maple syrup.
Henry (Paquet) Parker emigrated to the Champlain Valley from Quebec in 1840, and established a homestead on one acre in West Chazy. By 1889, Adolphus and Amelia Parker purchased an additional 60 acres to establish a dairy and maple sugaring operation; growing in 1930 to 1,200 taps and constructing a new sugarhouse under Pearlie Parker’s management, son of Adolphus & Amelia and grandson of Henry Parker. By 1961 the farm grew yet again to add 200 more acres to their land under Pearlie, his wife, Anna, and their son, Earl. The family constructed a roadside, retail sugarhouse to sell maple products year-round, while also constructing a new 45-cow dairy barn. Earl’s wife, Pat, opened a new farm store, enabling the family to ship maple products across the United States.
Earl became a maple equipment dealer, assisting other producers in procuring the equipment they needed to grow their maple production. That willingness to aid other producers showed in Earl’s crucial involvement in the founding of the Northeastern New York Maple Producers Association. Earl was inducted into the North American Maple Hall of Fame in 2011, participated in maple research, and grew the farm by 700 acres and 12,000 taps.
Earl’s son, Michael, stepped into co-ownership, rebranding the farm as we know it today: Parker Family Maple Farm. In 2008, the father and son duo sold the dairy operation to focus on the maple production.
Adolphus & Amelia’s great-grandson and Earl’s son, Michael Parker and his wife Laura, now own and operate the farm with 1,500 acres. They lease an additional 1,000 acres, built a more spacious sugarhouse, and produce 60,000 gallons of syrup from 100,000 taps, working alongside ten full-time employees, four seasonal employees, and additional family members. The maple equipment business continues as a key part of their operation. They are a CDL dealer with an on-site store, offering advice in best-practices and efficiency.
“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,” said Michael Parker, co-owner of Parker Family Maple Farms, to NBC5. “It’s just an honor to receive this award and for all the generations before us.”
With maple season quickly approaching, the Parker family is almost done readying their trees. In a Facebook post, they said: “We are still basking in the glow of this amazing honor and today’s bright sun on the white snow outside seemed to make this beautiful award shine extra bright in the sugarhouse. While, out in the woods, our maple trees are around 80% complete for being tapped and ready for the 2026 maple season!”
Adirondack Harvest called to congratulate Parker Family Maple Farm about the award and spoke to Laura Parker, co-owner of the maple production business.
“We are so grateful for the award and were very surprised. We had no idea about it, but were nominated by our community. We’re proud to have such an impact on our area that it’s getting attention,” said Parker. “It’s so exciting that we’re a family run farm business to have won this award.”
Brought to you by Parker Family Maple Farm, The New York Agricultural Society’s Business of the Year Award and NBC5.
