The Harrison County Horticulture Extension program has offered beekeeping classes to the public for the last several years.  In that time there has been interest from clientele for a mentorship program or a beekeeping club.  However, there had not been a volunteer that was interested in leading the club.  In the summer of 2021, the Harrison County Horticulture Agent was approached by an individual in the county who has been a beekeeper for 20+ years.  He was interested in starting a beekeeping club and was willing and able to take lead of it.  Before speaking to the horticulture agent, he had already spoken to his brother; a fellow beekeeper, as well as another experienced beekeeper in in the county.  And they had discussed the project.  The horticulture agent and the volunteer sat down to have a meeting to discuss the possibilities of the club.  

Following the meeting, the volunteer talked with several individuals in the community and established a core group of experienced beekeepers that wanted to educate the public, help save honeybees, and serve as mentors to beginners.  This core group would go on the lead the club in its new endeavor.  The group met 2 times and discussed goas of the club as well as its name and other logistics.  Following these meetings, the volunteer came back to the horticulture agent to give a synopsis of what had transpired.  The horticulture agent then reached out to other beekeeping clubs through extension agents to find rules, bylaws, ideas, etc. that could be used as a starting point for the new club.  These documents were compiled and given to the core group.  The group of beekeepers determined their name would be the Licking Valley Honey Bee Society.  They decided to have their first meeting in September 2021, and from that meeting they decided to have monthly meetings on the second Tuesday of each month.  Each month would consist of an update on anything new in the beekeeping world (diseases, pest, etc.) and there would also be a speaker at each meeting that would be secured by board members or the horticulture agent.  

At the first public meeting in September, board members were elected to officer positions.  The group determined to be their own organization and work with the Harrison County Extension Office as a collaborator and partner.   Through the partnership, the LVHBS uses the extension building for their monthly meetings as well as other grounds owned by extension to allow for some hands on learning opportunities and the horticulture agent works closely with the officers to provide speakers as well as research and any information that could be useful to the club.  

The LVHBS has been meeting each month since September 2021 with an average attendance of 30 people at each meeting.  From a survey completed, 56% of members are beginners, 26% have 1 – 3 years experience, and 18% classify themselves as experienced beekeepers.