![]() ![]() You could say the Tschannens have raised the bar on honey, while showing that it's the hobby, not the ribbons, that truly are the sweetest thing.Ĭhannel 12 is on Comcast cable in the northwest suburbs of Minneapolis and includes the cities Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Golden Valley, Maple Grove, New Hope, Osseo, Plymouth and Robbinsdale. "There's a number of other beekeepers who are picking up techniques and putting more time into it." Schaaf emphasizes that Sandy's product wasn't substandard, but rather the level of competition is now much stiffer than it used to be. Sandy's five-year sweepstakes honey run ended with a new sweepstakes winner. "This is a very interesting year because we had a little of an upset." "This year we had four to five competitors who were really close," says David Schaaf. This year's State Fair beekeepers and honey experts alike were abuzz that a new winner took top honors for sweepstakes. "Even the judges said we've never seen honey like this. They are the only honey farm in Maple Grove, so they are a hit at the Maple Grove Farmers Market for people seeking out locally produced honey.īut the Tschannens get a kick out of competing at the State Fair. Starting a honey farm has been an adventure. "Ken's and my philosophy has always been when is the last time you did something for the first time?" They also have horses and sheep as well as a small vineyard. They have a 15-acre farm, bordered by parks and a grove of Basswood trees that helps create a very light shade of honey. "We happen to be located right in the middle of Maple Grove, which is strange to think about," says Sandy. ![]() Sandy and her husband, Ken Tschannen, have a honey farm in the unlikeliest of places. "The competition is fierce and everyone does a fabulous job," says Sandy. She's won the sweepstakes award and more than 50 ribbons at the Minnesota State Fair, but admits that the competition is for the fun of it. "The real key to her success is she's extremely detail oriented." I ha ve discovered Farms that were planted, like traditional farms, or sugar groves that were discovered in woods that already existed (Harris Farm is a combination of both). My first sugarhouse was Harris Farm in Dayton, Maine in 2008. "Sandra Tschannen is one of our most intense competitors," says Schaaf. My explorations in Maple began as a new set of places to explore. Calling all future engineers, scientists, artists, storytellers, inventors, explorers, and biologists We still have spots for our early and late spring sessions that last 6 weeks each. ![]() One Maple Grove couple has excelled in the honey competition since starting out in 2009. Excelling in any competition requires a quality product as well as a fastidiousness to detail and following the rules carefully. Introducing. The best honey in the state is here, competing in a variety of competitions. "We had a very competitive contest this year," says Schaaf. You have to check out something new as well as sample an old favorite.īut in one corner the hustle dies down and Minnesota's sweetest shines at the Bee and Honey Exhibit in the Agriculture Horticulture Building.ĭavid Schaaf, superintendent of the exhibit and competition, oversees about 700 to 800 entries in a typical year. Opening day at the Minnesota State Fair is about what to see and do. ![]()
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