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The Fayette County Extension building has been closed for all meetings for April and May to prevent the spread of Coronavirus. The newsletter will still be mailed out however. If you would like to receive the newsletter and have not had a chance to pay your $10 yearly dues, please mail to Ellen Melcher, PO Box 1121, Versailles, Ky. 40383. If you have questions for the treasurer, please send an email to: treasurer@bluegrassbeekeepers.com. We are so sad we won’t be able to get together, but hope you have more free time to spend with your bees and to keep learning!
The 2020 Bluegrass Beekeepers School will take place on March 7, 2020 from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm at Kentucky State University. The Keynote Speaker will be Clarence Collison. Classes will be offered for first year beekeepers, second year beekeepers as well as classes on queen rearing, candle making, honey labeling, treating for Varroa mites and much more.
Pre-registration is closed but walk-in registrations are welcome at the door beginning at 8:00 am. Cost is $45 per adult and $15 per child. Coffee, donuts, beverages and lunch are included.
Click here for a finalized Class Schedule: 2020 Class Schedule
Click here for a Campus map of KSU. KSU map compressed
Registration and classes will be in Bradford Hall. Parking is available in student and staff lots. Please don’t park in individually marked spots.
Questions to: president@bluegrassbeekeepers.com
At our June meeting, we spoke at length about the entry requirements for entering your honey and honey-related products for judging at the 2019 Kentucky State Fair. Here is a link to find the entry rules that we discussed and also to find how to enter:
https://kystatefair.org/participate/compete/
You’ll have to scroll down to “General Department” and find “Bess and Honey”. Please note that the entry deadline is July 1!
Please also note that other areas of competition have different deadlines, so you will need to be alert.
Due to technical difficulties, we were unable to view the entire video on preparing your honey for show.
I have posted it here:
If this is a topic that interests you, I highly recommend watching all five videos on the playlist. They are informative and easy to understand.
AND if you do enter in any category, we would love to hear about your experience!
At our next association meeting on Monday, May 13th we have a busy meeting planned! We will have Sarah Preston, the KY Certified Honey Program Manager with KSBA make a presentation on the new program. Come find out how to apply for this certification for your honey that is produced in Kentucky.
Also, Sharon Tetterton, a beekeeper in our association a few years ago, has donated several beekeeping items to The Bluegrass Beekeepers Association. Many of the items will be for sale at our next meeting with the proceeds going to the Association. Listed below are some of the items up for sale.
Please come to the meeting with cash or check book to take advantage of this opportunity!
- NEW Assembled Garden Hive with 9 5/8 Brood Boxes. Includes frames and plastic foundation.
- NEW and USED 8 Frame 6 5/8” (medium) Supers with frames
- New 8 Frame 5 11/16” Super with frames and plastic foundation
- 8 Frame Hive with frames and screened bottom board.
- 10 Frame Hive with frames
- 10 Frame Hive Body Boxes with frames
- 10 Frame 5 11/16” Supers
- 8 Frame and 10 Frame Bee Stands
- 2 Ladies Bee Suits
- Smoker and tools
- Other bee supplies
In addition, we will present the updated Bylaws to the association members for a vote of approval.
Tonight Eric showed everyone a wireless/USB microscope that he bought specifically for looking at the eggs on frames. So many people were interested in it that we’re posting a link to it here.
Click here for the Amazon page for the microscope
or click here…
Randy Rosbrook passed away Sunday, August 26th. He was a long time member of the Bluegrass Beekeepers Association, mentor, educator and past president of the Madison County Beekeepers. He also participated in organizing Bluegrass Bee School and the EAS conference in Richmond. If you only knew him through beekeeping, be sure to follow the link below to learn more about him and the services that are scheduled.
http://orpfh.com/obituary/randall-rosbrook
Looking for a beekeeper who has an observation hive who would be willing to make a short presentation to children about honeybees. Becca Self with FoodChain in Lexington, KY works to connect the community to fresh food. This summer, as part of their Farm to School efforts, they’re hosting a 10 week program in partnership with the Lexington Farmers Market, called Power of Produce Club (POP). From 10 -12 every Saturday they have a booth at the market with educational and fun activities for youth ages 4 -12, with a special focus on food systems and seasonal Kentucky foods. If anyone is available to help with this educational opportunity about the importance of honeybees, please contact Becca Self at 859.536.7157. It would only be a few hours on the Saturday of your choice before August 4th.
See the attached PDF for more information.
The Bluegrass Beekeepers will have a display table set up at the Headley-Whitney Museum Garden Affair this Saturday, May 12 to educate folks about the importance of bees as pollinators. We would like to have some more members be available during the 10am to 5pm event to share about beekeeping. It allows you free admittance to the event. Be sure to check out their website and let us know if you are available. https://www.headley-whitney.org/
Below you will find the 2018 Bluegrass Bee School(BBS) pre-registration forms.