April 16 bee school coming to Whitley County

Whether you are a beginner or an advanced beekeeper, the upcoming Whitley County Beekeeper’s Association Bee School will offer a little something for beekeepers on all levels.

Julia Mahood will be the keynote speak at the Whitley County Beekeeper’s Association Bee School on April 16. She was named the 2018 George Beekeeper’s Association (GBA) beekeeper of the year.

The bee school will be held on Saturday, April 16, from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Whitley County Extension Office in Williamsburg.

There will be classes for both new and advanced beekeepers, including two in hive demonstrations. All who pre-register will be entered in a drawing for a free smoker.

The keynote speaker will be Julia Mahood, who has been keeping bees for almost 20 years at her home in Atlanta, Georgia. Mahood has long been fascinated by the secret life of drones and revolutionized the method for finding drone congregation sites (DCAs) using a flying drone, an unmanned aerial vehicle.

A Georgia Master Beekeeper, she is the past president of the Metro Atlanta Beekeepers Association. An advocate for prison beekeeping programs, she teaches beekeeping at the Lee Arrendale Women’s Prison. A graphic artist, Julia designed the new Georgia “Save the Honey Bee” license plate. She was named the 2018 George Beekeeper’s Association (GBA) beekeeper of the year.

In addition, Kentucky State Apiarist Dr. Tammy Horn Potter will give two in hive demonstrations on inspection best practices and mite sampling. She has been keeping bees for 25 years and is the author of three beekeeping books.

Potter is the founder of Coal Country Beeworks, which is focused on improving large scale reclaimed surface mine pollinator habitats, enabling beekeeping on these mine sites and providing education and beekeeping skills to local communities in Eastern Kentucky.

There is a $25 charge for adults, who pre-register by April 10. Registration at the door is $30.

There is a $35 charge for couples (spouses/significant others), who pre-register by April 10. Registration at the door is $40 per couple.

There is a $7.50 registration fee for children ages 17 and under.

Several door prizes have been donated by WD Bryants, Dadant, Smokey Ridge Apiaries and Owen Automotive. There will be t-shirts for sale and a silent auction. In addition, three full sized hives that have overwintered three plus years will be auctioned off. This event will be outside (weather permitting) so all are welcome to attend.

There are multiple ways to register the event, including:

• Online:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/southeastern-kentucky-beekeeping-school-tickets-292504347377
• In-Person: Whitley County Extension Office – (606) 549-1430.

For more information, see the Whitley County Beekeepers Association Facebook page or contact the Whitley County Extension Office at (606) 549-1430.