Interest in beekeeping has surged among Central Kentucky residents, especially small-scale producers, gardeners, and families eager to support pollinator health and explore honey production. Fortunately, the region has a rich history of beekeeping and several community member have been stepping up to teach the next generation about beekeeping. Many of the new individuals lacked the foundational knowledge needed to begin keeping bees successfully. Barriers such as startup costs, hive management concerns, and limited access to local mentors were common among those people. The beekeepers in Montgomery County and the Powell/ Clark Beekeepers Association came together to educate the new comers about beekeeping.

The Montgomery and Powell County Cooperative Extension Offices collaborated to host a 4-part Beginning Beekeeping Series in Late Winter 2025. The program was coordinated by Gary Hamilton (Montgomery County ANR Agent), Jason Vaughn (Powell County ANR Agent), and myself, Cheyenne Lamb (Montgomery County Horticulture Agent), with educational sessions led by experienced beekeeper and 2021 State Beekeeper of the Year Larry Young.

The series covered key beginner topics including: What to Expect in Your First Year of Beekeeping, Equipment Needs and Associated Costs, Common Pests and Diseases of Honey Bees, Selecting a Suitable Site for a Hive, And more, with time for Q&A and hands-on demonstrations. Extension publications and locally relevant resources were provided, and the Powell/Clark Beekeepers Association offered additional mentorship and support opportunities.

The program drew strong community interest, with 50 participants attending each night, totaling approximately 200 contact hours.
The audience included: New and prospective beekeepers, Small-scale farmers and gardeners, and Individuals interested in pollinator health and local honey production. Participants represented a wide range of experience levels, though the majority were beginners looking to start their first hive within the next year.

Program evaluations on Qualtrics revealed that 100% of participants increased their knowledge of beginner beekeeping practices. All respondents stated they planned to apply one or more practices from the series to their own hive setup or pollinator management. Several attendees shared that they had already begun purchasing hive equipment and preparing sites for installation. Additionally, 10% of participants have joined the Powell/Clark Beekeepers Association to continue learning and networking with local experts. These results show the program’s effectiveness in educating and empowering new beekeepers, while strengthening pollinator stewardship and agricultural engagement across Eastern Kentucky. As well as building momentum for continued collaboration across county lines.