“He laughed and added that it gives a whole new meaning to the term “sugar shack.”

South 4 Farms is a two-person operation that began with one man’s passion and unexpectedly grew into a beautiful love story. I stopped by during Kentucky Maple Days, where I had the pleasure of meeting Nace, the heart behind the operation. He welcomed us in and gave a full tour, starting in the processing room where the maple syrup is carefully cooked, filtered, and bottled. One of the highlights was getting to taste the syrup straight from the evaporator — fresh, warm, and absolutely unforgettable.

Nace explained how maple sugar and syrup are made, starting out in the woods. In late winter, maple trees are tapped, allowing sap to flow naturally from the tree. The sap is collected and brought back to the sugar shack, where it is slowly boiled in an evaporator. As the water cooks off, the sap thickens and the natural sugars become more concentrated. In fact, it takes about 40 gallons of tree sap to produce just one gallon of pure maple syrup, which really highlights the time and care that goes into every bottle. For maple sugar, the syrup is cooked a bit longer and stirred until it crystallizes into granules.

From there, Nace led us out to see his impressive tree-tapping setup. With over 100 maple trees contributing to the operation, it’s clear this is a true labor of love. As we walked through the woods, he shared stories and laughed about what he calls “Maple Madness,” joking that there’s no cure once it gets in your blood. That’s also where he shared the story that makes South 4 Farms so special. “I wasn’t looking for love, and neither was she,” he said with a smile, “but she came for a bottle of syrup, and now she’s my lovely bride.” He laughed and added that it gives a whole new meaning to the term “sugar shack.”

That lovely bride is Sheila, who has since joined in on the fun and helps Nace with the business. Together, they make South 4 Farms not just a place that produces incredible maple products, but one that feels welcoming, personal, and full of heart.

I left with a bottle of their rich maple syrup and some maple butter, both of which were fantastic. South 4 Farms offers field trips for anyone interested in learning how maple sugar is made from start to finish, and you can shop their products both online and in person. If you’re ever in the area during maple season, it’s well worth the visit.

Address: 632 Pope Rd Scottsville, KY