Let The Learning Bee-gin!
Local Bee Club to Offer Beekeeping School
Brandy York
The Ashland Beacon
Have you ever looked at a jar of honey and wondered about the process that it took to get it to a store shelf or table at the farmers market? Have you ever contemplated what the honeybee does with the rest of her day after she leaves a wildflower? Even if you’re not a connoisseur of honey, the benefits of the honeybee go beyond the production of the sweet treat, particularly concerning their contribution to pollination and the sustainability of life on this planet as we know it. The keeping of these magnificent creatures is referred to as beekeeping (formally known as apiculture), and it is a skill that has been passed down since ancient times and continues to advance. Whether for hobby or trade, it’s an intriguing art that is often enveloped in mystery by so many. Perhaps it’s the power of a swarm of bees, or maybe it’s the space-like white suit that is donned by their keeper. Apiculture is a growing community, and it’s one that can be found right in our own backyard. Literally. If you have ever had the slightest interest in taking up beekeeping, this could be the year to do just that.
This month, the Boyd County Extension Office will be hosting the 2025 Northeast Kentucky Beekeepers School, presented by the Northeast Kentucky Beekeepers Association (known to many simply as “The Bee Club”) based in Boyd County, Kentucky. Club members and nonmembers alike will congregate to share their interest, knowledge, and passion for beekeeping. Whether a newcomer or a seasoned veteran, there will be opportunities to learn and grow, regardless of your current knowledge base.
Northeast Kentucky Beekeepers Association secretary Jessica Lewis of Ashland acquired an interest in beekeeping at an early age, having been exposed to apiculture by her grandparents, who were beekeepers for twenty-five years. “When my grandfather passed away in 2010, some of his beekeeping tools were handed down to me. I knew that I someday wanted to carry the legacy forward in honoring him and the many years he spent caring for the honeybee population while providing honey for our family and local community,” said Lewis. She learned of the beekeeping school as well as the club, and from there began the expansion of the foundation that her grandparents had laid for her many years before. She describes her involvement with the club as “unlimited support,” as well as an opportunity for personal growth, including club leadership as the secretary, and providing education to children at local schools about the importance of honeybees. “The honeybees teach me each time I go to open my hives,” she expressed.
Robert Queen of Ashland serves as the newly elected president of the club, which meets every second Monday of the month in the Franks Building at the Boyd County Fairgrounds. “My beekeeping activities and involvement with the club came about as a result of having seen bee hives on sale while shopping at a local store,” he explained. “Because my wife and I have, for a number of years, grown fruits and vegetables, we became interested in beekeeping in order to pollinate our garden.” So, in the spring of 2023, they purchased the necessary equipment and two nucleus colonies (essentially two condensed versions of full-size colonies of bees) from the well-loved supplier, The Honey and Bee Connection in Morehead, Kentucky.
Queen expressed that although they were not able to attend the beekeeping school until the following year, they found the monthly club meetings to be “incredibly valuable,” offering guest speakers who share season-specific knowledge (including topics such as hive inspections, pest treatments, overwintering, etc.) in addition to the opportunity for some hands-on learning by participating in the care of the club’s hives, which are located on-site at the county extension’s property.
As if that doesn’t sound helpful enough, add a group of warm and welcoming fellow beekeepers who are eager to answer questions, assist, instruct, and support the “new-bees!” While he does testify to the benefits of club membership, he still highly encourages attendance at the beekeeping school as a great place to start for those interested. Attendees will benefit from a variety of presentations, such as “Hive Components and Equipment,” “Package Bees,” “Nucleus Colonies,” “Pest Management,” as well as information on grants that are available to fund beekeeping. “Those attending will learn the value of the amazing little creature upon which so much of our food supply depends (and) what equipment is required,” explained Queen. “Had I been able to attend class prior to actually keeping bees, I’d like to think that there would have been fewer mistakes along the way that first year. It would certainly have been the case that I would have been more confident in what I needed to do as a beginner.” He added, from his personal experience, that he and his wife were “hooked” after they had the chance to participate in extracting and bottling honey from the club’s hives and suspects that any future club members who take advantage of this opportunity will be hooked as well!
Treasurer Grant York of Ashland describes the club as an environment that fosters learning. “We’re there because we love bees, and we love teaching people about beekeeping,” noted York. His beekeeping journey began in 2020. He was unable to attend the school that year but did begin to attend club meetings by spring, as well as investing time in books and YouTube videos. He went on to say, “I always tell people, 10 minutes in a hive is worth 10 hours of reading or videos.”
It's a new year, and a new adventure awaits! Don’t let this opportunity buzz on by! Make plans to attend the 2025 Northeast Kentucky Beekeepers School on Saturday, Jan. 25, in the Franks Building at the Boyd County Fairgrounds, located at 1760 Addington Road in Ashland, KY. For more information, check out the club on Facebook at NEKY Beekeepers. You may also get more information as well as register for the event by contacting the Boyd County Extension Office at 606.739.5184 or via email at boyd.EXT@uky.edu. There will be free coffee and doughnuts beginning at 8 a.m., and lunch will be provided for those who have preregistered and paid by 1/17. “Bee” there!
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