Success StoryBullitt County Beekeepers' Association



Bullitt County Beekeepers' Association

Author: Lorilee Kunze

Planning Unit: Bullitt County CES

Major Program: Beekeeping

Plan of Work: Natural Resources and the Environment

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

Many Bullitt County property owners are seeking alternative income opportunities.  One of those opportunities is urban beekeeping.  Interest in urban beekeeping in Bullitt County has increased over the last several years due to the economic impact of COVID and the flood of agricultural marketing on social media.  Many homeowners have an interest in beekeeping and the Bullitt County Beekeepers' Association is an excellent resource for it.

Once a month the Beekeepers' Association hosts an educational event.  We provide educational experiences utilizing the most up to date techniques and research to address topics such as pest control, hive management, winter feeding, and swarm control.   We also employ hands on demonstrations in our state-of-the-art Multi education building and our on-site apiary to help homeowners learn and experience beekeeping techniques kinesthetically.  The leadership of the Association have decades of experience and partner new beekeepers with mentors to help ensure their success.  

Our Association works well with the state apiarist and state Association. We host a day at the honey booth at the State Fair and set up each year at the Master Gardener Plant sale to market the program and as a fundraiser.  We have a small bank of shared equipment for members to utilize, such as an extractor, so that costs are reduced for beekeepers.  This program is very active and growing, with an increase in membership of about 11% over the last year (45% of which are new beekeepers).






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