COMMUNITY
Jarrell Plantation recently had its 33rd annual Syrup Makin’ Day, showcasing the history of how sugar cane syrup was made, how farm life used to be and highlighting a bit of Jarrell Plantation’s history.
Derek Jackson, interpretive ranger, said they were showing the two eras of how sugar cane syrup was made. One way was made in the 1850s and 1860s, and the other way was made during the turn of the twentieth century, showing how it has changed over time.
“We had our Sugar Cane Syrup Makin’ Day, and one of the key things with this program is we had some cane cookers who were were here,” he said. “They were volunteers who came out to cook sugar cane syrup in the old kettles that have been here at Jarrell Plantation since around 1850. We also had volunteers helping us press cane. We had a cane press here.”
He said they had other volunteers at Jarrell Plantation that day showing how sewing, weaving, cooking, and doing other farm related activities. Jackson said it was to help bring everything to life, so visitors could get a feel for how things operated on Jarrell Plantation and on a farm during this time of year.
The ranger said the Young American Music School was out providing live music for guests, a wood stove cook was cooking biscuits, sausage and more for people to taste. Attendees had a chance to learn about spinning and weaving, taste sugar cane juice as it was being pressed, and watch how syrup was made.
“A lot of people have never seen sugar cane syrup being made or cooked, or even pressed the old-fashioned way. We like to offer these demonstrations of how farm skills were done. This way future generations will have these memories and these traditions will carry on,” he said.
Jackson said there was a good response at Jarrell Plantation during the Syrup Makin’ Day event. He said people had lots of questions and were interested in the history at Jarrell Plantation. The turnout was great, and they were very busy.
He said people should come out to Jarrell Plantation for Syrup Makin’ Day and other events and learn a little about how life was like in the past and the history of Jarrell Plantation. He said Syrup Makin’ Day is one of the oldest events they do at Jarrell Plantation, and he was happy to see those who came out to enjoy the event.
“I think one of my favorite things about the event was we got to run some of the old machinery,” Jackson said. “Running the sugar cane press and seeing it being used for its original purpose as intended is neat.”
