The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) is reminding producers about upcoming deadlines for disaster assistance under the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) or the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP).

The Agency emphasizes that losses must be the result of a weather event occurring on or before September 30, 2011 – the last day of the ELAP program. Losses due to adverse weather events occurring on or after October 1, 2011, are ineligible for benefits under ELAP or LIP.

To be eligible under ELAP and LIP, livestock losses due to adverse weather events must occur within 60 days of the adverse weather event. Producers must file for losses within 30 days of the deaths becoming apparent. The final date to file a notice of loss for ELAP and LIP losses is December 29, 2011.

Once notices of losses are filed for ELAP or LIP, producers will have until January 30, 2012, to submit all required documentation and complete the application for payment.

Producers should contact their local FSA county offices with any questions about ELAP or LIP. Additional information can also be found on the USDA FSA Web site. Click herefor more details.

Date

November 3-6

Location

Omni Marina Hotel - Corpus Christi, TX 78401 707 North Shoreline Blvd. - Reservations: 361/887-1600 or Toll Free: 1-888/444-6664

$89 / night if you book before October 19th

Located in the midst of 131 miles of Texas Coast, sailing, sunning and deep sea-fishing, the Omni Corpus Christi Hotel Marina Tower is a true seaside playground.  Situated in the lively downtown Marina District this three-diamond hotel offers spectacular views of the Corpus Christi bay and is just moments from area attractions.  The hotel is also just 15 minutes from Corpus Christi International Airport. (more info)

Get Directions

Registration

Download the Registration Form

Send to Jimmie L. Oakley, 1799 Goodson Court - Round Rock, TX 78664

Kids Learning About Bees

Thursday, November 3, 2011 10 AM- 2 PM

Omni Marina Hotel
707 N. Shoreline Blvd.
Corpus Christi, Texas
(361)887-1600

This free event is open to school children of all ages, accompanied by an adult, during the Texas Beekeepers Association annual convention.

Educational stations will be manned by students and experienced beekeepers. Meet Buzzy Bear and Honey Queens and Princesses from Texas who will escort groups through the 30-45 minute tour of the educational stations which will include:

• An observation hive of honey bees
• Bee suit, hat, veil, gloves
• Honey extracting equipment
• Bee hive box, smoker, and tools
• Pollination Display
• Beeswax candle making
• Posters
• Handouts
• Bee related items for purchase
• Honey Queen display tables
• Buzzy Bear

Contact J'Neena Swinney to register
Cell 214-546-7363 Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
For your time slot, please email your name, number in your party, and a contact phone number to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Date: June 11, 2011
Registration: 10:30 to 11:30 am
Cost: $12 for adults, $6 for children (includes lunch)

RSVP to Dick Counts, Delegates Committee Chair, via (903) 566-6789 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Lodging: Best Western,
2251 N Trade Days Blvd,
Canton, TX
(800) 780-7234

Location: The Lenamond Family Farm
2764 VZ CR 3213
Wills Point, TX 75169
(903) 896-7710

View a Map

Dear Beekeeping Friends,

     I hope you and your bees are enjoying a wonderful summer! It has certainly been a wonderful and very busy summer for me and my bees. Our family recently extracted our honey at the home of CCHBA member Doug Buchanan, and we are pleased to have our largest yield yet!                    
     On March 22, I traveled with Shirley Acevedo and Rachael Seida to the Austin area, where we first enjoyed a delightful evening and good night’s sleep at the home of Mary Bost of the Williamson County Area Beekeepers Association before the busy day which would follow.

     The next day began with a visit to the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, in the company of Williamson County Honey Queen, Rebekah Jones, Rebekah’s mother Cindy and brother Caleb, Rachael Seida, Shirley Acevedo, Christy Oakley Chartier and Jimmie Oakley. Deryn Davidson, gardener and gardens volunteer coordinator at the Center, led us all on a tour of the beautiful wildflower gardens and introduced us to Executive Director, Susan Rieff and other wildflower center employees. Deryn is also a member of the WCABA and maintains beehives on the wildflower center grounds.

     Our next stop was at the Texas State Capitol, with the intent of paying a visit to our district representatives. Unfortunately, we were unable to meet them in person, as they were conducting business elsewhere at the time, but Rebekah and I each left them a bear of honey to enjoy, courtesy of Bost Bee Farm.

     Before the WCABA general meeting that evening, I had the privilege of assisting Rachael Seida as she conducted a media training session for Rebekah Jones. Having served as Honey Queen at the county, state and national levels, Rachael is indeed a valuable asset to the Honey Queen Program. I am so thankful for the guidance that Rachael, former Honey Queens and Shirley Acevedo – have given me!

     I had the pleasure of visiting the WCABA March meeting that evening, where I had lots of fun fellowshipping, giving a brief speech, helping to recognize the new youth scholarship recipients and hammering nails right along with them as they built their scholarship hives on the meeting-room floor. Thank you, WCABA, for a delightful visit, and special thanks to my wonderful hostess, Mary Bost!

      On April 3, I attended the Spring Festival at Heritage Farmstead in Plano, TX, with Collin County Honey Princess, Caroline Adams (who also happens to be my sister!) and our mother Caryl Adams. We shared the good word about beekeeping to many families that day, some coming back to our table again and again to observe the bees in the observation hive. One of the things I enjoy about being Honey Queen is having the opportunity to watch many people experience the allure of honey bees and beekeeping – as beekeepers, we can certainly relate!
    On April 9, I visited Marion Elementary in Allen, TX, with Collin County Honey Princess, Caroline Adams. Together we gave a presentation to the after-school environment class and answered many questions.

   

     Earth Day is an excellent time to promote the importance of honey bees and beekeeping, and I had an opportunity to do so on April 22, when I was one of the presenters at a special Earth Day Program at the Greenhill School in Addison, TX. Throughout the day, the students moved in groups from one place to the next, learning about many Earth Day-appropriate topics, one of those being honey bees and pollination. I gave a total of seven bee talks, with a 15-minute interval in between each one. I had never given that many presentations in one day, so my throat didn’t seem all too happy with me by the time I was finished. When I arrived home, I took my own advice and had some honey!
     The city of Sherman, TX, also hosted an Earth Day celebration at the Sherman Earth Day Festival on April 24. I attended the festival with Shirley Acevedo, and we set up our beekeeping display table and observation hive beside that of Guy and Liz Money of  CCHBA, who were selling hive products to the many other festival attendees. I also gave a presentation entitled “Honey and Health.” We spoke with many interested people (potential beekeepers?) about beekeeping that day!
     Nash Farm is a historical farmstead in Grapevine, TX, which hosts many educational events throughout the year. On May 8, I participated in the program “Urban Homesteading at Nash Farm”, where I gave a presentation on urban beekeeping. A.P. Warne (A.P.’s Apiaries) and Steve and Sheila Warne (Warne Bee Farm) were also there selling honey, pollen and honey sticks from their attractive display table.
     The CCHBA held their annual picnic on May 15, and we enjoyed an afternoon of fellowship, fun and games, barbecue and honey dessert contests, a live auction, a cooking demonstration by Collin County Honey Princess, Caroline Adams, and a delicious buffet lunch, but the most exciting part for me was my first bee beard! Let me share the story with you:

     During the picnic, some of our club members left to capture a swarm in a nearby town, which they brought back to the picnic for this grand purpose. At the end of the picnic, the CCHBA members formed a large crowd around a fantastic screened booth that Rachael Seida had designed and had built with her father Steven especially for bee beard demonstrations and having changed into more appropriate clothes, I entered the booth. With a sheet fastened around my neck, I seated myself on a little stool in the booth, and Kaylynn Mansker, Collin County Honey Queen, began to narrate outside the booth. The cage containing the queen was taped to the sheet at my neck, and CCHBA President, Blake Shook, with the assistance of Rachael Seida, introduced the bees to the sheet. The bees were extremely gentle, and neither I nor my handlers were stung during the demonstration. However, although the bees should have then tickled upward to their queen and my face, they had their own ideas. It seemed at first as if we had come across yet another colony of bees that “hadn’t read the book”, but after observing their strange disinterest in the queen and trying in various ways to make the bees go up (even taping the queen cage to my chin), my handlers arrived at a logical explanation for their unusual behavior. Based on the evidence, it seemed that the queen was still a virgin, and consequently was not producing a level of queen pheromone sufficient to attract the bees to her. In the end, although only a few bees found my face, I had a lovely “bee bib”!
    A special thank-you to all who participated in the demonstration – I am so happy to have had that experience!

    Immediately after the picnic, my father, Ned Adams, drove me to the airport, where I caught my flight to Houston. I was picked up by Clyde and Sarah Hughes and their children – Wesley, Cassie, Walker and Jackson – of the Harris County Beekeepers Association, who would be my kind hosts for that night and the next. Thank you very much, Hughes family!

     The following morning, Mrs. Hughes, the children and I went to the Pasadena Strawberry Festival, where I met with Don Angle and Harry Reichart of the HCBA, and spent the day at the booth the HCBA maintains at the Festival, selling honey and explaining to passers-by the workings of the bees inside the unique Texas-shaped observation hive at the booth. I also enjoyed a slice of the enormous strawberry shortcake served at the festival every year – and it was delicious!

     Each year, Mr. Harry Reichart, who worked at the Johnson Space Center in Houston for many years and volunteers there still, arranges a Level-9 NASA tour for the Texas Honey Queen, and on the day following my visit to the Pasadena Strawberry Festival, I had the privilege of taking the tour with my father, who drove down from our home in Plano. We arrived early, and Mr. Reichart introduced me to some of the NASA employees and enjoyed a space-shuttle ride with my father and me before we boarded the tour van. One of the best parts of the tour was Building 32, where Mr. Reichart worked with the vacuum chambers. The door to the largest chamber weighed 40 tons, yet was so perfectly balanced that it could be closed with one hand! What an incredible experience that tour was for me! Thank you so much, Mr. Reichart, for the gift of this tour, and thank you to everyone for all the “extras” that have made being a Honey Queen so meaningful and memorable for me!

     On May 29, I traveled to Burleson, TX, with A.P., Steve and Sheila Warne of CCHBA for the Burleson Honey Tour, where about 1,000 cyclists competed in races of various distances. I gave a brief welcome to the assembly before they began their races, and waved them off as they rode away. There were a number of vendors set up where the race had begun, and as the bikers returned, many came by the Warnes’ booth to purchase pollen, honey and the ever-popular honey straws. I had many good opportunities to promote honey as a healthful source of quick energy!

     I had the privilege of visiting the Pineywoods Beekeepers Association monthly meeting on June 10, in Lufkin, TX. Mrs. Acevedo, Rachael and I drove down together that day and met PBA President, Marie Kocyan at the Wisteria Hideaway, a bed and breakfast in Lufkin, where we would spend the night. After checking in, the four of us left for Cheddars, where we enjoyed a tasty supper before the meeting. I gave a presentation for the meeting program and had a lovely time meeting and fellowshipping with the Pineywoods Beekeepers. Before returning home the following day, Marie gave us a personal guided tour of Lufkin and Nacogdoches, which included a visit to the Mast Arboretum where we saw the marvelous Win Day Observation Hive, built by the East Texas Beekeepers Association and maintained by the Pineywoods Beekeepers Association. Thank you, Marie, for your thoughtfulness!

     I was so happy for the chance to see many of you at the TBA Summer Clinic in Webberville, TX, on June 19; to say hello to those of you I have met before, and to meet some of you for the first time! I traveled there with Caroline Adams, Rachael Seida and Michelle Bradley of CCHBA, and after the program, auction, and lunch, I participated in a media training, led by Rachael, with the other Honey Queens and Honey Princesses present in preparation for our cooking-with-honey demonstrations at the Texas State Fair in October. Thank you, Rachael, for the helpful instruction, thank you, Dr. and Mrs. Molnar, for hosting the event, and thank you all, dear beekeepers, for a wonderful day!

 

     On July 1, I visited the East Texas Beekeepers Association monthly meeting in Tyler, TX, with Shirley Acevedo and Anne Siep (CCHBA Secretary) after joining several of the ETBA members for a delicious supper at Rudy’s Barbecue. I gave a presentation for the meeting program and thoroughly enjoyed meeting with the East Texas Beekeepers. After the meeting that evening, the three of us spent the night at the home of Mrs. Violet Bourns, who kindly invited us to stay with her. Thank you, Mrs. Vi Bourns.

 

     The Pineywoods Beekeepers Association invited me to attend their July Family Picnic and Field Day in Lufkin, TX, on July 10. Rachael and I drove to the home of Claude and Patti Smithhart of the PBA, the generous hosts of the picnic. I had such a pleasant time meeting and learning with the PBA members – thank you all for a delightful day!
     I met with Kim Williams, contributor to our local newspaper Plano Star Courier, at my apiary on July12. Kim was writing a story on beekeeping in Collin County, and she also interviewed several other beekeepers. I invite you to visit http://www.planostar.com/articles/2010/07/20/plano_star-courier/news/680.txt
to read the article!
     I am so very thankful for all the beekeeping friends I have made so far during my year as Texas Honey Queen, and I look forward to meeting many more of you during the months to come!

Your Texas Honey Queen,

Allison Adams

     East, west, north and south  -  which is best? All four directions are best for our Texas Honey Queen, Allison Adams! She has traveled in all four directions on behalf of us Texas beekeepers and our bee-loved honey bee. Allison, you are doing a superb job of being Honey Queen from the Lone Star State!
     Thank you to all of you beekeepers who invited Allison to your area. Thank you to all who so warmly hosted her.  Thank you to all Texas beekeepers for your support of the Texas Honey Queen Program! Thank you, Rachael Seida, for co-chairing this excellent program with me. Thank you, Jimmie Oakley, for managing all funds very well. 

     One benefit of the Honey Queen Program is the continual increase of people interested in keeping bees and using honey. At our home, we see the increase in the number of callers who genuinely care about the honey bees and the products of the hive.
     The upcoming months will be busy ones for the Texas Honey Queen at events where you can join her. She will be cooking with honey in the company of the American Honey Queen or Princess at the Texas State Fair on October 6 and 10 (local honey queens will give demonstrations on October 7 and 9). The Texas Beekeepers Association Convention will take place November 11 - 14, at the Inn of the Hills in Kerrville, TX. Come volunteer with Allison for Kids Learning about Bees on Thursday, November 11, at the Convention. And lastly, join Allison at the North American Beekeeping Conference and Tradeshow in lovely Galveston, TX, on January 4 - 8, 2011. You won’t be disappointed at any of these events. Please call or email me as you would like for
Allison to visit your
area. I look forward to
seeing you!
Thank you again!

As I get older, it seems the years are flying by. For it seems like just yesterday that we were shipping our bees off to California, as we do every January, to aid in pollination for local farmers. About the middle of March, the bees are returned. It is then that the spring work begins. We start by treating the bees for mites and dusting with Tylan. This year we seem to be getting ahead on keeping the mites under control, and then the race is on to make up the losses for the year.
     Our honey flow starts trickling in about mid-April. This year the bees did exceptionally well on the clover and vetch crops. Our honey production was significantly increased from the previous year’s harvest. Early summer we process honey and ship bees to South Dakota where yellow/white clover and alfalfa honey are made.
     We extract our honey as soon as possible, trying to stay one step ahead of the hive beetles. After the honey crop is harvested, it is prepared for storage until it is bottled and packaged.   
     Our honey packaging process is becoming more and more efficient and we are gaining new clientele all the time. We are thankful that the honey crop production has increased because in the past, I was forced to purchase additional barrels of honey, making it difficult to make a profit.
     Even though time is flying by, I am reminded daily that I am truly blessed to be successful in something I truly love. God Bless.
Best Regards,
Randy Johnson
Johnson Honey & Bee Farm - Paris, TX.

Dear friends,
      Summer has finally made it to Texas. After a somewhat cool and mild spring and early summer we are now hitting the triple digits. Moisture conditions here have been adequate, but are beginning to show signs of summer as well. The early brush honey crop was rather small and consisted of mainly wild flower nectar. As we moved into mid May and June, the horsemint was very prolific and produced a real nice crop for us. Demand of colonies for melon and cucumber pollination was as strong this spring as I have seen in some time. There are even some farmers in this area who are trying to grow watermelons in the middle of the summer. We have been able to rent them some hives as well recently. The price for colony rental for melon crops is in the $50 - 60 dollar range in the winter garden area. The price of honey is still rather healthy as well, with white honey bringing in the $1.50 - $1.60 range with amber grades 20 to 30 cents a pound lower.
     With the talk of budget cuts at the state level, I am concerned about the opening at the Honey Bee Facility at Texas A&M. They have been told to cut the  current university budget by 5% and the next fiscal year budget by an additional 10%. We have not been told anything on the open lab position, but we will continue to monitor the situation going forward. The Entomology Department has named the successor for Dr. Kevin Heinz as head of that Department, Dr. David W. Ragsdale. Several of us who work closely with A&M are looking forward to meeting him when he officially starts his job on November 01. We also wish Dr. Heinz all the best in his future plans.
     I hope you are making plans to be at the TBA Annual Convention in Kerrville this November. Ed Priest has secured Randy Oliver as the lead presenter at this year’s Convention. We have worked hard to get Randy here the last few years, but always had a scheduling conflict. I am sure it will be one of the best conventions we have had and I look forward to seeing you there. Hope you have had a great year so far and we will see you in Kerrville. 

Todd Youngblood

by Vi Bourns

  Kellie Lenamond was crowned 2009 ETBA Honey Queen by 2004 ETBA Honey Queen, Connie Collins on Feb. 5th 2009 at TJC West Campus in Tyler.
     In November 2009, she was selected as runner up for Texas Honey Queen at the Texas Beekeepers Association Annual Convention held at the Holiday Inn Select on South Broadway in Tyler. 
     Queen Kellie was a busy “little bee” in 2009 spreading the word that the honey bee and pure natural honey are very important to man from many different aspects including pollination, preservation of the honey bee and their  importance to our health, diet and beauty. She discussed these topics with 18 different groups in the East Texas area, including Longview High School’s Forrest Awareness at Eastman Nature Center; Bruce Miller Nursery in Edgewood; the East Texas Fair in Tyler and with school children.
     Kellie gave cooking demonstrations and shared her samples with the groups including several Master Gardening Clubs, 4-H groups, church groups and at the Texas State Fair in Dallas.
     She attended meetings and gave reports to the ETBA local club and Texas Beekeepers Association at the Delegates Meeting in Round Rock.
     Some of her appearances were covered by the news media around Texas. Tyler Telegraph’s Feature Editor, Megan McGowan and photographer, Jaime Carrero witnessed first-hand how many bees can be in a hive as they suited up to watch Kellie and instructor, Dick Counts remove a monster beehive from a fifty-five gallon barrel, secure them in frames and put in their permanent home, a beehive. Afterward, they were privileged to taste the  honeycomb and pure natural honey straight from the bees.
She did a telephone interview for “America in the Morning” and “The Jim Bohannon Show” which was heard on a combined total of approximately 500 radio stations. She was contacted by a free lance editor of The Cambridge University Press in New York for an article about beekeeping in Texas. It has gone to press and we are awaiting a copy.
     The year 2010 promises to be a busy one already for Kellie. She will continue working with her bees and spreading public awareness of this amazing insect created by God.
     She will graduate in May and is planning to attend the University of the Cumberlands in Kentucky in the fall to prepare for a career as a Physician’s Assistant.

 

Merry Margaret Holloway, 2010 ETBA Honey Princess

Queen Kellie crowned the new ETBA Honey Princess for 2010, Merry Margaret Holloway on December. 3, 2009.
     Merry Margaret is 14 years old and is the youngest daughter of Mark and Susan Holloway of Flint, Texas.
     She is in the eighth grade at Good Shepherd School where she also attends church and sings in the choir. She has been on the basketball and track team. She will be on the debate team this coming year.
     Her interests are watching her bees from her bedroom window, photography of animals and learning to play the guitar...in that order. She became interested in honey bees this past summer, took a mini-course in beekeeping from Dick Counts, and then purchased two hives. She has registered for the regular beekeeping class by Dick Counts in the spring, joined the East Texas Beekeepers Association and the Texas Beekeepers Association. 
     Her ambition in life is to become a pastry chef, work with her bees and teach others about their importance in our lives.

by Allison Adams

 

Hello, Texas Beekeepers!

     I hope you and your bees are off to a wonderful start this New Year! I have just arrived home from an adventure in Florida, beginning with the ABF Convention in Orlando, and I’d like to share my experiences with you.
     It all began on Tuesday, January 12th, when Nicole Pettibon, Rachael Seida, Shirley Acevedo, Blake Shook and I arrived at the Wyndham Resort in Orlando, Florida. After checking into the hotel, I had the privilege of meeting the 2010 Pennsylvania Honey Queen, Tessa Bryson (the younger sister of Rachel Bryson, who was the 2008 American Honey Princess when our own Rachael Seida was the 2008 American Honey Queen). Like me, Tessa had come to the Convention to observe and learn before competing for the American Honey Queen title in 2011. She and I (and Mrs. Talbert, who joined us) enjoyed a very nice conversation together. On Tuesday evening was the welcome reception, and I had the opportunity to meet beekeepers from all over the nation. It was a very pleasant time of fellowship!
     The Convention officially began on Wednesday morning with the opening ceremonies, greetings from Diane Jurchen (American Honey Queen) and Allison Hull (American Honey Princess) and introduction of the competing state Honey Queens. In the afternoon, I sat in on several very informative shared interest group presentations in the honey producers/packers division. Since most of my time at the next 2011 ABF convention will be spent in meeting people and selling quilt raffle tickets, I thought this event in Florida was my chance to learn as much as possible! Wednesday’s evening event was the Honey Queen reception and Quiz Bowl which proved to be an excellent opportunity to observe, learn and take notes for next year!
     Thursday began with the ABF Ladies Auxiliary Breakfast and meeting, when the American Honey Queen and Honey Princess gave their end-of-year reports. Next, each of the competing state queens demonstrated their knowledge of beekeeping and hive products by performing a short skit or giving a brief presentation before the assembly. It was very entertaining to see how creative the girls had been in designing their marketing presentations – I am already getting ideas for next year! During the breakfast I enjoyed listening to the ladies at my table as they shared stories about their introduction into beekeeping by marrying commercial beekeepers – their first date in the bee yard, picking up packaged bees on their honeymoon, etc. I am sure some of you ladies can relate to that! Thursday ended with a trip to the Sleuth Mystery Theater for dinner and a show.
     Friday’s big event was the ABF Foundation Scholars Recognition Luncheon, where those who had made significant contributions to the Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees were recognized and awarded. After the ceremony we heard from the keynote speaker, Dr. Jim Tew of Ohio State University, who gave an interesting and humorous speech on the ways beekeeping has changed over the years. Late Friday afternoon I sat in on the American Honey Show Auction where beautiful honeys, candles and beeswax sculptures were sold to the highest bidder. That evening, I left with Rachael Seida, Shirley Acevedo and Janet Rowe to walk a few blocks to a local Indian restaurant (the four of us love Indian food) for supper. We then had a fun time exploring some gift shops before returning to the hotel in time to see part of a thought-provoking bee film. 
     Saturday was my last convention day. I made my final tour of the tradeshow, which was one of the highlights of the Convention. I had thoroughly enjoyed walking up and down the aisles, looking at books, extractors, smokers, mailboxes, beetle traps, honey, note cards, Polish propolis lollipops, bee bracelets, calendars, salt and pepper shakers and so much more! It was also a wonderful place to meet people, and I was a little sad to see it go. I also listened to a fascinating seminar on top bar hives on Saturday morning. In the afternoon, I met up with the Honey Queens and Honey Princess at the Orlando Public Library for Kids and Bees, an event organized by Kim Lehman of Austin, TX.  Saturday evening was the ABF Banquet. It began with the entry of all six competing state queens and the American Honey Queen and Honey Princess. We then enjoyed a delicious formal dinner before the introduction of the new ABF officers. Next was the sweepstakes drawing, quilt raffle drawing and live auction. The last and crowning event of the evening was the coronation of the 2010 American Honey Queen and American Honey Princess. Chosen as the 2010 American Honey Queen was Lisa Schluttenhofer of Indiana and Amy Roden of Wisconsin was crowned 2010 American Honey Princess.
     Throughout the Convention I had been meeting people from all over the United States, Canada and even Bermuda. A great way to do this was to casually approach someone or walk by them and say, “Hello, I’m Allison Adams. What is your name?” Their reply would sound something like this: “Oh, hi! I’m _____ - and where are you from?” I would answer, “I’m from Texas, in the Dallas area – and where are you from?” They would respond and I would ask, “And do you keep bees in _____?” When the person told me how many hives they kept in their state, province, or country, the number was nearly always in the hundreds or thousands. When they asked me “And how many hives do you keep?” I must confess I felt a little silly at my answer: “Four.” I guess I felt a bit out of place among all the commercial beekeepers, but by the end of my stay in Florida, I came to realize that it does not matter how many hives a person keeps.  Whether one keeps 6,900 hives, 25 hives or just one, or even if someone has no hives at all, but nurtures a few flowering plants for the honey bees to gather pollen and nectar from, they are doing a truly wonderful thing. After I replied with the small number of hives I kept, some of the beekeepers would say very sincerely, “Good for you!” That encouraged me so much – I’m glad to be a beekeeper!
     When the Convention was over, my family (who had driven to meet me) picked me up and we enjoyed several days exploring Florida before driving back home. One of our stops was at an organic pick-your-own citrus grove in Clermont, Florida. The family who owned the orchard kept many beehives on their property for pollination and honey production, and I tasted their delicious orange blossom honey, as well as, some saw palmetto and tupelo honey that they sell. My family and I also spent a day in St. Augustine, and as we were strolling down one of the old streets there, we spied a little tea and spice shop, so we stepped in to look around. As we spoke with the two ladies working in the shop and we mentioned we were beekeepers, they looked upon us with wonder and approval. It reminded me of something said at the Convention: “Beekeepers are the good guys.” Honey bees are in trouble (after all, the title for this year’s ABF Convention was “Keeping the Hive Alive”), and thus, we too are the good guys. Thanks to the media, thousands of people now understand how important honey bees are to us. That speaker at the Convention was explaining that because of this, beekeepers have truly become the “good guys.” As those who care for these precious creatures, beekeepers are esteemed and respected more now than perhaps ever before – it certainly is a wonderful time to be a beekeeper!
     I want to thank you all so very much for making it possible for me to attend the 2010 ABF Convention. I had an amazing time meeting and learning from beekeepers and researchers from across the nation, such as David Hackenberg, Reyah Carlson, Nancy Gentry, Randy Oliver, Maryann Frazier, David Mendes and many, many more. Some of these people I had only seen in television productions, so I felt like I was meeting movie stars! It was an incredible privilege to be able to learn from these people and share in their discoveries. It will be so nice to arrive at the 2011 ABF Convention in Galveston and already know so many friendly people – I just love beekeepers!
     I am looking forward to my next event at the Fort Worth Livestock Show at the end of January or beginning of February – stay tuned for more information!

Thank you all for your support,

~ Queen Allison 

 

 

Ray Latner, Branch Manager Dadant - Paris, TX;

Rachael Seida, former Texas and American

Honey Queen and Allison Adams, 2010 Texas Honey

Queen outside the exhibitors area.

 

 

 

 

Allison Adams, 2010 Texas Honey Queen;

Rachael Seida, former Texas and American Honey Queen;

Lavada and John Talbert, Sabine Creek Honey Farm in Josephine, Texas

and Janet and Jim Rowe, Bee Charmer of Wylie, Texas. 

 

 

 

Front Row: Wisconsin Honey Queen, Amy Roden;

American Honey Queen, Diane Jurchen;

Kim Lehman of Austin (in the bee dress);

American Honey Princess, Allison Hull;

Texas Honey Queen, Nicole Pettibon and

Minnesota Honey Queen, Alexa
Sorenson. 

Back Row: Pennsylvania Honey Queen, Maya Althouse; Indiana Honey Queen, Lisa Schluttenhofer and Iowa Honey Queen, Shiliah Spaulding.

by Shirley Acevedo

 

Dear Texas Beekeepers,
     As Texas Honey Queen Program Chairperson and with much regret, I inform you that our 2009 Texas Honey Queen, Nicole Pettibon, was not selected as 2010 American Honey Queen or Princess at the recent North American Beekeeping Conference in Orlando, Florida. I will say Nicole represented Texas beekeepers impeccably well and looked beautiful throughout the 5-day event. Thank you, Nicole! You did an outstanding job!
     Nicole’s trip to Orlando began on Tuesday, January 12, with a 6 am flight out of Dubuque, Iowa, where she attends Emmaus Bible College. First thing on Nicole’s agenda at the Conference was a 2 pm meeting with the five other state honey queens who were competing for the titles. The other lovely young women were from Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
     Tuesday evening was a reception, and the Honey Queens were in full swing, meeting attendees and selling quilt raffle tickets (proceeds benefiting the American Honey Queen Program). Thank you, numerous Texas beekeepers, who purchased tickets from Nicole prior to and during the Convention!
     On Wednesday morning at the opening session, Nicole had the opportunity to introduce herself, mentioning her own hives and how much she likes beekeepers! Wednesday evening was the Auction and Quiz Bowl, and the winning team was the “Sweet Stingers” (Nicole Pettibon of Texas; Alexa Sorenson of Minnesota and Shiliah Spaulding of Iowa).
     Thursday morning was the Ladies Auxiliary Breakfast with 3-minute marketing resentations by each of the state honey queens. Nicole presented herself as Reverend Langstroth’s daughter, Harriet in period clothing, touting Italian bees and the bee space in hives with removable frames. The setting was Langstroth’s sale of bee equipment at a county fair in 1863.
     By noon on Friday, the six state honey queens had  sold the 2000 quilt raffle tickets @ $5.00! On Saturday morning, each of the contestants were interviewed by the three judges, who had remained incognito throughout the Conference. Saturday afternoon was the Annual Kids and Bees event at the Orlando Public Library and headed by Kim Lehman of Austin, TX. Saturday evening was the Banquet, Auction and the Coronation. 
     Miss Congenialty was voted upon by the six queen contestants themselves, and they chose Maya Althouse of Pennsylvania. A Runner-Up was selected by the judges, in the unlikely event the Queen or Princess could not complete her reign, and she is Maya Althouse of Pennsylvania. The 2010 American Honey Princess was named - Amy Roden of Wisconsin. The 2010 American Honey Queen was named - Lisa Schluttenhofer of Indiana.
     There was tears of joy and tears of sadness. The Honey Queens and other beekeepers came away feeling grateful for the memorable experiences, the newly-made and renewed friendships, and the invaluable learning that took place at the 2010 North American Beekeeping Conference in Orlando, Florida. It was a great event!
     Thank you, dear Texas beekeepers, for your unrelenting support of the Texas Honey Queen Program! 
     Our 2010 Texas Honey Queen, Allison Adams, attended the Florida Conference also. As a visiting state honey queen, Allison was able to get acquainted with the people and events of the National Convention, helping her to become a possible strong candidate for the 2011 American Honey Queen/Princess program. Our 2008 American Honey Queen, Rachael Seida of Texas also attended the Conference, along with numerous other Texas beekeepers.
     I look forward to hearing from you to schedule Allison’s visit to your beekeeping club meeting and events. I look forward to seeing you at the Janice and John G. Thomas ‘59 Honey Bee Facility in Bryan, TX, on Saturday, February 20! Do put on your calendar the American Beekeeping Federation/American Honey Producers Association event in Galveston, TX, at the San Luis Resort and Conference Center, January 4 – 8, 2011! I’ll see you there!
Appreciating you!