Agape Lunch – Maple Sugaring Tradition

By Cheryl Crawford, Administrator

On Thursday, March 12, we held our Agape Lunch focusing on the JRHS maple sugaring project. During lunch, students enjoyed a slideshow highlighting the history and recent improvements to the JRHS Sugar Shack. The shack was originally built in 1998 and initiated by alumnus Nathan Reynolds on the land of his parents, Frank and Myra Reynolds. The recent upgrades included a reverse osmosis system that improved production. 

We were also blessed to hear from JRHS alumnus Carter Woodrow, ‘25 and grandson of Frank and Myra Reynolds, who shared about his four years participating in the maple sugaring program. Carter reflected on the long hours of collecting sap, boiling in the sugar shack, and the fellowship that naturally developed as students worked together through the process. He expressed excitement about the recent upgrades, noting that the increased efficiency will allow students to spend less time on the labor-intensive production side and more time exploring the entrepreneurial opportunities connected to the project, areas such as business development, financial planning, branding, and marketing the syrup they produce.

Our dessert challenge speaker, Pastor Frank Reynolds, then shared a brief reflection from James 1:2, reminding students that trials can make us either bitter or better. Just as the maple sugaring process requires pressure, heat, and time to transform sap into sweet syrup, the challenges we face in life reveal what is inside of us and help shape our character. Trials and pressures can show both how far we have come and how far we still need to grow as God develops perseverance and maturity in our lives. As we continue to persevere, God will demonstrate the sweetness of his secret delight inside of you! 

You may notice a special family woven throughout this story. The Reynolds family represents a true JRHS legacy from the original vision of alumnus Nathan Reynolds, ‘98 to the generosity of Frank and Myra in allowing the program to operate on their land, to Carter’s student experience, and Pastor Frank’s encouragement to the next generation. Without their generosity and long-standing support of JRHS and the maple sugaring program specifically, this opportunity for our students would not exist. If you see them, please take a moment to thank them personally.