Experience a piece of history on November 16 at the annual cane grinding and syrup-making event held at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College’s Georgia Museum of Agriculture.

For many Southerners, cane grinding and syrup cooking are family traditions that have been passed down through generations. The Museum’s Historic Village is one of the few places where visitors can step back in time to see a mule- powered mill grinding sugar cane and a wood fired kettle utilized to cook cane syrup.

As the mule turns the mill, the cane juice pours from the mill spout. From there, the juice is transferred to the syrup shed where it is cooked down in a cast iron kettle to make the sweet cane syrup. Costumed docents will be on hand explaining the cane-grinding process and the intricacies of producing a delicious bottle of cane syrup.

Fun, educational programs for guests of all ages will take place throughout the Village during the day including blacksmithing demonstrations, yarn doll making, grapevine wreath-making, wood-burning stove cooking, and more. Guests can also enjoy mule plowing and mule-powered cane grinding demonstrations.

The Vulcan Steam train is always a highlight of a day at the Museum and it will be awaiting guests to board at the Train Depot in the Historic Village. Both the steam-powered cotton gin and sawmill will be in operation. Each of these popular exhibits serve to highlight industries that have deep roots in the Wiregrass region of Georgia and were integral to the development of the region.

The Museum will be open from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Nov. 16. Admission for the day is $12 for adults, $9 for senior citizens, $9 for children 4 – 15 years of age, and free for children ages 3 and under.