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09 July/August Honey Queen Report

Saturday, 12 September 2009 15:48 |

by Nicole Pettibon

Hello Beekeeping Friends,

I hope y’all have been keeping cool in this Texas summer heat! Most of the flowers have given up around my house, much to the sorrow of my bees. However, they are still buzzing around the crape myrtle trees that continue to bloom. I am eager to see your different types of honey in the contest at the TBA Convention in Tyler this November!

I was very happy to attend the TBA Summer Clinic on June 20th, held in Webberville, TX. It was great to see, in one place, so many of the new friends I have made throughout this year as Texas Honey Queen. Your service has made the Honey Queen Program a delightful experience. We had a wonderful afternoon of fellowship, eating and learning in the Molnars’ beautiful backyard. After a delicious BBQ lunch, thanks to Jimmie Oakley for the organization, we split up into groups of about 20 people to attend small workshops packed with nuggets of beekeeping knowledge. There were lessons on how to treat for varroa mites by Randy Oakley; how to extract honey by our host Dr. Albert Molnar; introducing queens to a hive by Ed Priest; how to reuse old equipment by Blake Shook; beehive inspection by John Talbert and the bee vacuum by Brandon Fehrenkamp. There was information for all levels of experience in beekeeping. I was so happy to learn how to get those aggravating wax moth cocoons out of the plastic foundation indentations: an air compressor! (Thanks, Blake!) I would definitely encourage you all to attend the next summer clinic for a great opportunity to learn new beekeeping techniques. It was a very valuable day.
A few days after the Clinic, Shirley Acevedo and I attended a pollinator event for children at the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens. We were one of several stops the groups of children made as they walked through the gardens. Shirley and I set up tables with plenty of beekeeping equipment such as a suit, a smoker, beeswax and even a mini model hive for demonstration. I spoke to about 50 kids in small groups throughout the morning. They were all about 6-10 years old, and their little eyes lit up with excitement to see the real live bees in the observation hive at the end of the 30-minute presentation. After listening to many ‘sting’ stories with noses pressed against the hive glass, the groups walked to the next booth with honey sticks in hand and eyes searching the flowers for a glimpse of a striped fuzzy body buzzing around. I was delighted to find out later that evening that I had been on the Channel 11 news where a little girl told the reporter all about the importance of honey bee pollination. It thrills me to see the younger generation learning about this wonderful insect.

On July 13, I was able to go with A. P. Warne and his sister Alicia to the Metro Beekeepers Association in Burleson for their July general meeting. They had a good group of about 50 people attending that evening. I was able to visit with the MBA President, George Stokes, who kept the meeting running beautifully. I had a great time addressing the group during the program that evening, and they had many fantastic questions about what the Honey Queen Program entails. Toward the end of the evening, we had an excellent discussion about different methods of
preventing small hive beetle from overtaking our hives. Because the beetle larvae have to grow into pupae while burrowed in the ground, A. P. recommended that you put a piece of tin under your screened bottom board hives. The larvae will then fall on the tin, unable to get into the ground to grow. We had a great time that evening and I hope to go back again someday!
I attended the groundbreaking ceremony at Texas A&M for the new Honey Bee Research Facility that will be built there. I was privileged to be one of the ones who signed the commemorative stud. Congratulations, Texas Beekeepers!
These last few weeks, I have been preparing for college. I am going to attend Emmaus Bible College in Dubuque, Iowa, with a dual degree in Bible and Computer Science. This is a very exciting time in my life, and I am really looking forward to it! I plan to be at the State Fair in October and the TBA convention in November.

I hope to see you all there! I wish you a very happy and cool rest of the summer!
With love,
Nicole Pettibon, 2009 Texas Honey Queen

Texas Honey Bee Facility Groundbreaking Ceremony Held in Bryan

Saturday, 12 September 2009 15:36 |

by Jimmie Oakley

The Texas A&M University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Entomology held a “groundbreaking” ceremony for the new Texas Honey Bee Lab Facility on Friday morning, July 24, 2009, on the Riverside Campus off State Highway 47 in Bryan, Texas.
It was attended by distinguished members of Texas A&M University, the Entomology Department, the Texas Beekeepers Association, various local beekeeper association, and the company and contractors responsible for the construction of the building.
There was an immediate question by all in attendance as to what was really going on, because instead of breaking ground on the new facility, a partly completed building stood before us with men working laboriously as we spoke. There was an 8 foot, 2x6 beam, that lay on a table in front of the speakers podium; so maybe it was a “beam raising”. But no, the contractor indicated there was now no need or place for the particular piece of wood that lay before us. It was finally suggested that because of the size and length of the wooden plank that it was a “stud signing”, and that is what we did.
The dignitaries, the association officers, the contractors and the local association representatives all took their turn affixing their name and comments to the a-fore-mentioned piece of timber with much flare, pomp and show.

The signing was preceded by opening remarks from Dr. Kevin Heinz with the Entomology Department, Dr. Larry Boleman on behalf of Dr. Mark Hussey, Vice
Chancellor and Dean, Dr. John G. Thomas, former professor and major contributor and TBA President, Todd Youngblood, on behalf of the Texas Beekeeping Industry.
After the signing, many were given the opportunity to take a quick tour of the Facility as is, to get a feel for the size and scope of the building. With concrete floors, no roof, and only stud walls the framework was very large and airy; but add a roof , some sheetrock, doors and windows, and it will take on a official look.

A noon buffet was prepared at the College Station Hilton Hotel for all who attended the groundbreaking ceremony. Dr. Mark Hussey was on hand and make some remarks about the accomplishment of all those involved in the fund raising campaign.

Dr. Tanya Pankiw, Associate Professor, Dept of Entomology, expressed appreciation for the efforts of the Texas beekeepers in finally reaching the goal of building a lab for beekeeping research at A&M.

09 July/August Director’s Report

Saturday, 12 September 2009 14:52 |

by Randy Johnson, Area 4

Hello Texas Beekeepers,

I want to update everyone on how 2009 is going for Johnson Honey & Bee Farm. We received the bees back from California in the middle of March and were very pleased at the shape that the bees were in. At that time, we started making up nucs and shaking some packages of bees to sell. The spring nectar flow started out looking good, but then the rain set in. We got about 20 inches of rain right at a time that we didn’t need it, cutting our chances of some early honey. We had to start feeding the nucs to keep them growing and putting on Hivastan and Tylan for the bees going to South Dakota. However, we are optimistic that we can catch a crop on the clover and alfalfa.
I am sure by now most of you know that Johnson Honey & Bee Farm is also a honey packer. Our honey-packing business seems to be growing more and more each year. We pack everything that we produce in Texas and South Dakota and our demand still requires us to buy additional honey. We are thankful for that, as right now, it is what is paying the bills. With the price of fuel and the failing economy, times have been hard for everyone I know. I once had an old timer tell me that if I would park my trucks, I could probably make some money. He was probably right!
Well I hope that 2009 so far has found my fellow beekeepers well and that it continues to do so. May the bees keep buzzing and the honey keep flowing! God bless!

Best Regards,
Randy Johnson
Johnson Honey & Bee Farm
Paris, Texas

East Beekeepers Association Has New Honey Queen

Tuesday, 14 July 2009 11:56 |

The East Texas Beekeepers Association has a new honey queen, 16
year-old, Miss Kellie Lenamond. Kellie was crowned by the 2004 ETBA Honey Queen, Miss Connie Collins at the ETBA meeting on the TJC West Campus February 5, 2009.
Kellie is the daughter of Tammy and Mike Lenamond and is the oldest of six children. Kellie and her family live in Wills Point, Texas on 20 acres. They have a vegetable garden, dogs, cows, pigs and of course, honey bees.
She is a junior and has been home schooled by her mother since the first grade. She is also taking two college courses at Trinity Valley Community College in Terrell, Texas.
Kellie is active in her local church, singing in the youth choir and helping to direct the children’s choir and programs. Her talents include playing the violin, mandolin and guitar.
She and her father became interested in bees about three years ago.
She took a beekeeping class in Collin County taught by John Talbert
and she is currently taking a refresher couse in Chapel Hill taught by
Dick Counts.
She has six active, healthy hives to care for and with the help of her
father, extracts honey which she uses to cook special recipes for her
family and friends. In her recipes, she substitutes honey for sugar.
Kellie’s goal is to represent the ETBA by promoting the value,
preservation and public education of the honey bee and pure natural honey.
ETBA’s long term goal of supporting a honey queen is to help educate young ladies to become valuable beekeepers and to become model citizens of the community. Our association will support them to compete for the Texas Honey Queen if they desire; which gives them the benefit of a scholarship to help further their education.

2009 Texas Beekeepers Delegate's Summer Clinic

Monday, 08 June 2009 18:00 |

The Texas Beekeepers Association Delegates have set the date of June 20th, 2009, for the annual Summer Clinic. This year it is being hosted by Dr. Albert and Marjorie Molnar who live just east of Webberville, Texas, at the Travis-Bastrop County line. This year the program is aimed at informing beekeepers of the proper use of equipment, showing new equipment and new methods used by beekeepers in Texas.

Registration for the event will begin at 10:30 AM and will be followed by a free period to fellowship and story swapping before lunch. The noon meal of Texas style Bar-B-Que will come with all the trimmings. The registration fee this year is going to be $12 each for adult members and spouses. The price for the same meal for children 18 and under is only going to be $7.50. The registration for non-member adults is $15.00.

After lunch there will be different training stations set up for the mini classes. There is an abundance of shade trees to keep you cool, but bring your favorite lawn chair to help you remain comfortable while you eat and enjoy the afternoon. In the event of rain there is a big dry barn that will be used.

The Molnar’s are just 27 minutes east of IH35 on FM 969. Take Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd east off of IH35 (just south of UT campus) and continue eastward on MLK, which becomes FM 969 at US Hwy 183. Passing under SH130 (Toll Road) continue on FM 969 through Webberville and stop at the Travis – Bastrop County line. The Molnar’s are at 20920 FM 969 on the north side of the road, an American flag pole at the driveway entrance (across from the storage buildings). You may select an alternate (shorter) route after consulting your Texas map.

Please R.S.V.P. to TBA VP and Delegate Chair Ed Priest at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or by calling 210-722-7380 by Thursday, June 18th to allow for scheduled food preparation. The event should end around 4PM.

Click here to download flyer.

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