American Maple Museum
Home of the Maple Hall of Fame · Croghan, New York · Founded 1977

The American Maple Hall of Fame

An annual induction since 1977 · Filed under Hall of Fame

The American Maple Hall of Fame is the maple syrup industry's premier honor — a formal recognition of the individuals whose work has shaped the industry across the United States and Canada. The Hall was established alongside the museum itself in 1977, and each year selects two new inductees in a ceremony held during the museum's opening weekend in May.

Who Is Eligible

Inductees are individuals — typically maple producers, researchers, educators, or industry advocates — who have made significant and sustained contributions to the North American maple syrup industry. Contributions can include any of the following:

  • Multi-generational stewardship of a major maple operation
  • Research advancing the science of maple production
  • Founding or sustaining state, provincial, or national maple syrup associations
  • Innovation in maple production equipment or techniques
  • Educational work in maple-region schools, universities, or public programs
  • Industry leadership and advocacy

Inductees come from both the United States and Canada. The Hall is explicitly North American in scope, with members from across the maple belt — from Maine to Minnesota, from Quebec to Ontario, from Vermont to West Virginia.

Selection

Inductees are selected by the North American Maple Syrup Council — the trade organization that represents the U.S. and Canadian maple industries — not by the museum itself. This separation is intentional: the Hall represents the industry's recognition of its own, with the museum serving as the physical home of that recognition rather than the gatekeeper to it.

Two inductees are selected each year, with nominations submitted by state, provincial, and regional maple associations.

The Induction Ceremony

The annual induction is held at the museum during opening weekend in May. The weekend draws maple producers from across the U.S. and Canada — recent years have seen attendees from Indiana, Ohio, Connecticut, Maine, Vermont, and the provinces of Ontario and Quebec.

The ceremony itself is part of a larger weekend that includes:

  • A pancake breakfast with the museum's own pure maple syrup
  • An open house at the museum
  • The induction ceremony proper, with welcome remarks, introductions of the inductees by their nominators, and the presentation of plaques
  • An industry gathering — informal, but one of the best networking events on the North American maple calendar

The 2025 Inductees

The 2025 induction ceremony was held on May 17, 2025, with two new members welcomed into the Hall:

  • David Hamilton — of New Castle, Indiana. Hamilton's introduction to maple was through his marriage to Carol Ann Rutherford; the Rutherford Sugar Camp was started in 1911 by Lewis Rutherford, Carol's grandfather. In 1977, Carol and David took over the operation; in 1981 a new sugar house was constructed. The fifth generation is currently involved with the Rutherford maple operation. Dave was a founder and charter member of the Indiana Maple Syrup Association and served as North American Maple Syrup Council national president in 2014.
  • Timothy Wilmot — of Underhill, Vermont, recognized for sustained contributions to the maple industry through research and producer education.

The 2025 inductees were introduced by Ray Bonenberg of Pembroke, Ontario.

The Hall in the Museum

The Maple Hall of Fame occupies Room 3 on the first floor of the museum. Each inductee is represented by a plaque, a portrait, and a written summary of their contributions. The room is organized chronologically — earliest inductees nearest the entrance, most recent at the far wall. More on the first floor

Past Inductees

The Hall has been inducting two members per year since its founding — meaning nearly a hundred individuals have been recognized over the years. See past inductees

Nominations

Nominations to the Hall are accepted through the North American Maple Syrup Council — not directly through the museum. Producers, association leaders, or others wishing to nominate a candidate should contact their state or provincial maple syrup association, which forwards qualifying nominations to the Council's selection committee.

Attending the Induction Weekend

The opening weekend and induction ceremony are open to the public. The pancake breakfast and museum open house are ticketed events; the induction ceremony itself is free to attend. For specific dates and details for the upcoming year, see our events page or call the museum.