NASHVILLE — The National Maple Syrup Festival will return for a second year to Brown County after a successful start in 2015. Slated for the first weekend in March of 2016, the festival will bring together maple syrup enthusiasts, hobbyists and producers from across the state and beyond to celebrate all things maple.

Even though the National Maple Syrup Festival is still months away, maple madness has already begun in Brown County. On Sept. 12, festival organizers in conjunction with the Indiana Maple Syrup Association will present “Building a Healthy Maple Sugaring Business,” a panel to enlighten maple syrup hobbyists, as well as producers, statewide regarding state health regulations, requirements, and stipulations related to maple sugaring.

This panel, which will take place from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at the Brown County Public Library in Nashville, also will cover local health department inspections, along with differences in requirements for wholesale of syrup versus selling on-site at smaller venues such as farmers markets.

Panelists will include Al Houchin and Hank Wolfe from the Indiana State Department of Health, as well as Jennifer Heller Rugenstein, who will represent the Brown County Health Department. All three are well-versed in health regulations and will offer a wealth of knowledge for inquisitive maple producers. Designed to provide hobbyists and producers with an opportunity to learn the ropes of safe and legal maple sugaring, as well as sales, the panel also will feature a question and answer session so that no questions will go unanswered.

“Building a Healthy Maple Sugaring Business” will be held in Meeting Room B in the lower level of the Library, 205 Locust Ln, Nashville. Tickets are $10 per person and can be purchased online at nationalmaplesyrupfestival.com. All are welcome to attend.

In addition to hosting the panel, National Maple Syrup Festival organizers are already busy planning for the upcoming festival, including the assembly of a 2016 Festival Board. This year, festival-goers can expect exciting new features as the central hub of activities will now be located in the Brown County State Park.

For more information on all things maple, visit nationalmaplesyrupfestival.com.