Success StoryBeekeepers educating the beginners



Beekeepers educating the beginners

Author: Keith Hackworth

Planning Unit: Floyd County CES

Major Program: Beekeeping

Plan of Work: Agricultural Education and Production

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

Extension continues to support the Floyd County Beekeepers Association by offering programming, guidance, and assistance while promoting their efforts. The county continues to have increased interest in beekeeping and trying to preserve this tradition. Since the association officially formed seven years ago, their fifty plus members have educated and mentored nearly a hundred new beekeepers in Floyd and surrounding counties. Attendance at some of their monthly meetings reached more than forty. Topics covered at their meetings have been basic beekeeping skills, making honey, queen rearing, hive diseases, insect problems, wildlife damage, making equipment, and uses of bee wax. These educational programs are provided by Extension, leaders, and other related organizations. Hives are used for hands-on training for new and beginning beekeepers. Their annual meeting event held in February was co-sponsored by the County Extension Service and the association. The association has provided nearly two hundred nucs and packages to members and new beekeepers over the year.  The bees were paid by fundraising efforts of their members or donated by the members. This program is responsible for bringing several new hives of bees in the county and keeping beekeepers involved in the association. At the end of the all programs, participants are asked to evaluate the programs. The overall rating was a ninety-three percent positive with the participants stating that seventy-five percent gained new knowledge. Nearly sixty percent of the participants have increased their hive numbers within the last year. There continues to be an increase in the interest in beekeeping in the county and these numbers involved are expected to keep rising. One of the best outcomes is that experienced beekeepers are mentoring new beekeepers or those interested in becoming beekeepers. They are educating their own with hands-on involvement.






Stories by Keith Hackworth


Beekeepers educating the beginners

about 5 months ago by Keith Hackworth

Extension continues to support the Floyd County Beekeepers Association by offering programming, guid... Read More


Gardening Education – Daycare and Homeless Shelter Projects

about 7 months ago by Keith Hackworth

At the direction of our leadership, Extension has been collaborating with several community groups a... Read More


Stories by Floyd County CES


Floyd County Dinner for Two

Floyd County Dinner for Two

about 1 months ago by Andrea Slone

The problemAccording to the United States Census Bureau there are 17,333 households in Floyd County,... Read More


Farmers Market Kid’s Days Community Collaboration

about 1 months ago by Heather Coleman

For the last three years Floyd County Extension has collaborated with our Floyd County Farmers Marke... Read More


Stories by Beekeeping


Beginner Beekeeping Series

Beginner Beekeeping Series

about 3 months ago by Alexis Amorese Sheffield

Due to the growing interest in beekeeping and the increase in members to local bee clubs the Boyle a... Read More


Beginning Beekeeping Series

Beginning Beekeeping Series

about 3 months ago by Jessica Bessin

Due to the growing interest in beekeeping and the increase in members to local bee clubs the Boyle a... Read More