Awards

 Elton Hoff “Mable’s Maple”

Elton got his start making syrup in a cast iron kettle growing up in Rural Wisconsin. He bought his farm in 1960 and began making maple syrup with his brother-in-law and another neighboring family. They started cooking on flat pans. Later, when the inspector gave his blessing to turn the chicken coop into a syrup house, they bought a 4x14 evaporator. Maynard Hoff joined the team just as others were getting ready to be done.  Elton was Maynard’s teacher and mentor for many years and eventually around 1976 they formed a partnership.

Elton has been a very active member of the Wisconsin Maple Syrup Producers Association, serving as a director for many years. Elton is always willing to help and lend good advice, he was a town board member for several years and an active member and officer in his church.

Joe and Barbara Polak, Merrill, Wisconsin Joe Polak was born in 1952 into a northern Wisconsin family that has always been very involved in outdoor activities.  He has made maple syrup his entire life and operates Maple Hollow, a maple syrup and equipment sales business with his wife Barbara.   His father, John, was a farmer and logger.  His mother, Lena, was a cook in a logging camp and helped on the farm.  Joe is the youngest of four children.  His two older brothers both have maple operations of their own and his sister owns and operates a gift shop in southern Wisconsin which sells Maple Hollow products. Polak Bros Sawmill started Merrill, WI in 1889.  At that time Joe’s grandfather owned and operated a sawmill, cider press and maple syrup operation thus trying to keep the workers on the payroll and employed year–round. The mill passed to his father, John and two uncles and finally closed in 1971.  The maple syrup operation passed to his father at that time.  Joe worked for his dad and purchased the business from his father in 1985 and added maple equipment sales at that time. The name changed from Polak Bros Maple Syrup to Maple Hollow.  Maple Hollow continues to sell pure maple products and maple making equipment. Joe attended Heller School, a 1 room school until 4th grade, Midway Elementary for 5th and 6th grade, and Merrill Junior High for 7th thru 9th grades. He graduated from Merrill Senior High School in 1970 where he was a member of the Marching Jays Marching Band.  He graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison in 1975 with a Bachelors of Science degree in Elementary Education and taught for 1 year before his father’s illness brought him home to help with the maple syrup business.  Joe’s dad was the principal salesman and deliveryman until his retirement.   A new sales room and canning facility was built in 1998 right next to the old location.   New websites and online stores were started at that time. Barbara was born and raised in Sonoma, California.  She received her elementary teachers degree from the University of California – Sonoma State College and taught 3rd grade for 10 years before moving to Wisconsin in 1981.  After moving to Wisconsin she became a waitress and hostess at local supper clubs and worked with Joe at Maple Hollow.  She continues to work at Maple Hollow and is the treasurer for the local cemetery association. Joe has also continued to be involved in community activities.  He is a member of Luther Memorial Lutheran Church and has held positions as President, Vice President and Elder and is sexton for the local Cemetery Association.  He was chairman of the Merrill Area Chamber of Commerce Agri-Business committee for many years.  He received the Interdependance Award from the Merrill Area Chamber of Commerce in 1991.  He is a member of the Wisconsin Maple Syrup Producers Association and has been President, Vice President, Director and Editor of the newsletter, the Wisconsin Maple News.   He currently is a member of the Marketing Committee.  He has held the position of Secretary-Treasurer of the North American Maple Syrup Council since 2003.  His educational background has been a great help promoting Pure Maple Syrup and giving the many educational seminars and classes on making maple syrup at county and state association meetings.  In 1996 Joe and Barbara received the Master Agriculturist Award from the Wisconsin Agriculturist Organization and in 1999 they were awarded producer of the Year by the Wisconsin Maple Syrup Producers Association.   In 2020 Joe was inducted into the International Maple Museum Center Hall of Fame in Croghan, New York.    He has been a member of Merrill Toastmasters and is currently a member of the Town of Schley Zoning committee. For Joe being outdoors is still preferable to being at a desk.  Using his chainsaw and splitting maul is his recreation and therapy.