Beekeeping continues to increase in popularity as more people become interested in helping protect our pollinators. As the popularity continues to grow the Fort Harrod Beekeeping club has been there to help the residents of Mercer County and those other counties that surround it.

The Fort Harrod Beekeeping club started in the winter of 2015 by the Mercer County Horticulture agent. The club originally initially had only 10 members and now has grown to over 60. The club meets monthly for a short business meeting and will host a speaker or an activity. As the club continues to grow they have increased the amount of outreach programs in the community and provide resources for new beekeepers.

Leaders within the club have reached out to at-risk students who are enrolled in the local high school day treatment program. Club members go into the class room and lead lessons on why bees are important, how to get a hive started, catching a swarm, and how to manage the hive. In the spring the club presented the students with their own bee hive and bee suites.

Beekeeping often requires an investment in equipment that can be costly for a someone new to keeping a hive of bees. The Fort Harrod Beekeepers decided to purchases equipment such as an extractor, hot knife, uncapping tub, and vaporizer. All of this equipment is available for rental for members of the bee club. Having this equipment for new beekeepers in the community helps take off the some of the financial pressure when a new beekeeper is just starting out.