Puffenbarger’s Sugar Orchard and WVLS Share Honors At Highland Chamber Of Commerce Annual Dinner

Monterey, VA – Puffenbarger’s Sugar Orchard and WVLS Radio were both recognized for their contributions to Highland County during the annual Highland County Chamber of Commerce dinner on September 18th. Puffenbargers is one of the oldest maple syrup producers in the county, in business now for 52 years. Chamber President Kevin Wagner talks about what makes Puffenbarger’s Sugar Orchard the Chamber’s choice for 2011 Business of the Year.

“To have 700 trees on one farm and 1200 trees on another farm, putting 4 or 5 taps into each one of those, maintaining the lines, collecting the water, bringing all the water in and boiling it down,” says Wagner. “And then on top of it to run some sort of little retail enterprise on your farm property as well, Puffenbargers over the years have really developed something that I think few of us would be able to attain. Then, three years ago, to have it all burn down so you can build it back up again.”

Wagner says they are typical of the kind of determination it takes to be a successful farmer. He presented the award to Doug and Terri Puffenbarger, who accepted on behalf of Ivan and Sis Puffenbarger.

“Thank you to everyone,” says Doug Puffenbarger. “Mom and Dad are not able to be here, but I know that they appreciate everything and everyone in the community that helped them get the sugar camp built back. I know they really try to do things to help out the community and I’m sure that they would appreciate it just as much as Terri and I do, so thank you.”

WVLS Radio received the 2011 Service of the Year award from the Chamber. Wagner spoke about his love of the radio station.

“Anybody coming into the Post Office every day knows that I always have WVLS on,” he says. “It’s on from the time I get in, in the morning; it’s a race to either turn on the radio or turn on the coffee.”

WVLS Station Coordinator Erin Will accepted the award on behalf of the station. Please click on the above link to hear the acceptance speech by Erin.