by Shirley Acevedo

Our Texas Honey Queen, Nicole Pettibon, is representing us beekeepers well while she is out of State! Nicole called to ask if I would please send her more of her Texas Honey Queen trifolds to her college address in Iowa. (I feel she is gearing up for the possibility of being crowned American Honey Queen or American Honey Princess at ABF in Orlando in January! I hope to see you at that very special gathering. I recently noticed Southwest Airlines had $69 fares to travel Dallas – Orlando in January. Don’t miss it!)
Nicole is now a freshman in college and is doing well! She will be back in Texas for the “Hello Honey” cooking demos at the State Fair of Texas on Thursday and Friday, October 1 and 2. Our American Honey Princess, Allison Hull, of Minnesota will join us at this event. Allison will be hosted by CCHBA members, Linda and Jim Smittle of Allen, TX (thank you so much, Linda and Jim!). We look forward to the very special participation at this event from Rebecca Hollington (Harris County Honey Queen), Kellie Lenamond (East Texas Honey Queen), Rebekah Jones (Williamson County Honey Queen), Allison Adams (Collin County Honey Queen, and Kaylynn Mansker (Collin County Honey Princess)! What a fine group of young women beekeepers! You all can be very proud of your good work as a State in bringing forward these Honey Queens and Princess, who are spokespersons for us in our communities about the value of honey bees! Thank you, John Talbert, for managing so well all the details of the TBA Honey Booth at the Texas State Fair. Contact John (by email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by phone 972-843-8084) about setting up a time to man the booth between Friday, September 25 and Sunday, October 18.
Nicole Pettibon will also be at the TBA Convention at the Holiday Inn Select in Tyler, TX, Thursday thru Saturday, November 12 thru 14! This year’s Convention promises to be a most rewarding time for all. Our American Honey Queen, Diane Jurchen, from Iowa will join us. Diane’s sister, Teresa was 2006 American Honey Princess and joined us at the TBA Convention in Kerrville that year.
On Thursday, November 12, Kids Learning about Bees will be held from 10 am – 3 pm at the hotel! This will be another special opportunity to share beekeeping experiences with the youth from the area. If you would like to volunteer for this fun event, contact Vi Bourns of East Texas Beekeepers Association ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 903-316-9300). Vi has been doing a wonderful job of setting up this event.
The Bee Buzz on Thursday evening will be your chance to get to know each of the lovely Honey Queens and Princess. Some special entertainment is being planned for the occasion! And after the Convention is opened on Friday morning and the Queens and Princess are formally introduced, we will come to honey judging time. Be certain to bring you entries for the judging of honey, wax, photos and gift baskets! The judging rules and guidelines are on pages 18 & 19.
Friday’s Queen Luncheon at the Convention - it costs $25 if you send in your payment at least by Friday, November 6! Pricey meal, you may say. I promise, you will not regret coming to lunch with the Queens and Princess! East Texas Beekeepers Association is planning to have one very special item on each table, and it will go home with one lucky person at each table. AND Nicole Pettibon, (Texas Honey Queen) and I have a something in mind for each person attending the Queens Luncheon. The item will cost you $25 to purchase outside of the luncheon. So, you should just go ahead and send in the $25 to Jimmie Oakley, and get the item free at lunch. Nothing like a bit of suspense . . . .
Thank you, dear Texas beekeepers, for all of the caring and support you have given Nicole over this calendar year! You have been the best! You have blessed her with your friendship, and in return, she has shared with others all over the state of Texas our mutual appreciation for the honey bee. .

See you soon!