Taylor County youth are “buzzing” with new 4-H club. Beekeeping has sparked an interest with youth and adults alike. Youth are excited and fascinated learning about bees and how they make honey.   

Through a Kentucky 4-H Foundation Agriculture Mini Grant in 2022, Taylor County 4-H was able to Purchase two beehives to be placed at the Taylor County Extension Office for educational demonstrations with our 4-H’ers and local bee association, the Green River Beekeepers. With the addition of the hives Taylor County 4-H was able to establish a Bee Club for youth.  Throughout the year, fifteen youth attended Bee Club meetings to learn about honeybees, pollinators, honey and were able to open our hives to see a working beehive and check on the bees.

This year, on July 12 the Bee Club got its first taste, and hands on experience harvesting over 70 pounds of honey from just one of their hives. The President of the Green River Beekeepers taught the youth the entirety of the honey extracting process, from fume board to storage. This honey will be sold by the club as a fundraiser and with the proceeds going back into the club for future projects. 100 percent of the youth stated that they have learned a new skill from this club AND had fun while doing so.