More than 160 participants attended the 2018 Eastern Kentucky Bee School that was held in Perry County. This school continues to grow each year with participants coming from three surrounding states.

     The event was sponsored by the Perry County Cooperative Extension Service and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. The Extension Service played a vital role in planning and conducting the school

     This one day event offered classes ranging from beginning to advanced beekeeping, including some specialty classes like, Mite-Biter Queens, AGR Chemicals in Hives, Bee Instrumental Insemination, Trees for Honey Bees, Viruses, making Lotion Bars and Lip Balm, Top Bar Hives making Mead., making 100 + Pounds of Honey and several unique classes. There was something offered for everyone at the school.

     The number of youth attending the school continues to grow, which is very encouraging. The only way we are going to continue to increase the number of beekeepers is get our youth interested. 

     There were four exhibitors and three Beekeeping supply companies that attended the 2018 school, Walter T Kelly Company, Dadant & Sons and The Honey and Bee Connection, which is a company that started because of this school.  

  Several other Beekeeping Supply companies provided door prizes or other items for the participants. 

     At the end of the school participants evaluated the overall school and the classes they attended. With 10 being the highest and 1 being the lowest. The overall rating was a 9.7 with most of the classes having the same rating as pertaining to knowledge gained from the classes. This was the highest rated school that we have had. 

     As a result of the school, Perry County has a confirmed number of 17 new beekeepers with 100 new hives. Perry County now has 5 commercial Beekeepers. 

Two local stores are now carrying beekeeping equipment.

     There has been a dramatic increase in the interest in beekeeping in the County. I use to only receive a call or two a year about beekeeping, now I am receiving one or two a week. 

     The Perry County Conservation District is conducting a Beekeeping cost-share program as a result of our school. They are providing $2500 in cost-share assistance to beekeepers to help increase the number of beekeepers in the County.

     This school has also driven enough interest in Beekeeping in Perry County that a beekeepers Association was form in the County in the fall of 2017.