Guest speakers include:

Hives for Heroes

Hives for Heroes is a national military veteran non-profit organization focusing on honey bee conservation and a healthy transition from service. Through the national network of beekeepers and veterans we provide connection, purpose, and healthy relationships fostering a lifelong hobby in beekeeping. Check out their website.

Bob Binnie - Blue Ridge Honey Company

Bob Binnie, along with his wife Suzette, owns Blue Ridge Honey Co. in Lakemont, Georgia, operating 2000 colonies along with a sizable honey packing operation. Voted "Beekeeper Of The Year" by the Georgia Beekeepers Association in 2003 Bob has been involved in commercial beekeeping for nearly four decades. Check out their website.

Greg Burns - Nature's Image Farm

Our mission is to teach and learn meaningful life skills alongside our 7 children and to continue the tradition of passing down the old ways. Beekeeping was a natural fit with this kind of lifestyle and as a family we’ve grown our beekeeping passion into a business where we provide high quality Bees to keepers across the country. We are passionate about helping folks get off to a good start thru mentoring, teaching and passing down the old time ways of beekeeping. We believe that Nature is the best teacher. Farming in Nature’s Image allows us to care for the land and ourselves in a sustainable manner for generations to come. Check out their website.

Matt Lance - Lance Honey Farms

Located in Central Nebraska, we specialize in supplying bees across the state to backyard beekeepers and helping hobbyists thrive in their prospective goals. We sell nucs and queens from April to August and honey in quantities from 4 oz to 5 gallons. Check them out online on their Facebook page.

Kamon Reynolds - Tennessee's Bees

Our goal is to give beekeepers quality information, techniques, explore new beekeeping styles & equipment, and test/pioneer better ways to encourage healthy bees and safeguard them from pests. Check him out online on their YouTube channel.

Ian Steppler - A Canadian Beekeepers Blog

Ian lives in Miami MB, which is southwest of Winnipeg and about 30 miles north of North Dakota. He is President of Steppler Farms, which is known for their cattle genetics. They farm over 3000 acres and produce 245,000-300,000 pounds of honey per year. Ian is the apiarist of the farm, running around 1500 colonies and AVERAGING around 200 pounds of honey per colony. He got his start in beekeeping by taking a beekeeping class at the University of Manitoba. After which, he bought 4 hives and the rest is history. He puts out several YouTube videos as A Canadian Beekeepers Blog which provides a wealth of beekeeping information. Check them out online on their YouTube channel.

Buzz Vance - Buzz's Bees

From a young age Buzz collected insects and an uncle gave him the nickname "Bugs". In college, while pursuing a degree in entomology, the nickname "Buzz" was acquired. Some 7 years later Buzz picked up the hobby of beekeeping and has been at it for 40 years now. So, yah, the name came first. His wife Annie keeps her distance from the bees, but adds beeswax as a key ingredient in her hand lotion bars. Providing a tasty honey and useful products like the hand lotion bars make both us and our customers happy. Check out their website.

Sponsors and donations from:

Bee Bum

Dadant

Fisher Farms

Hillco LLC

Interceptor Swarm Traps

Lorobees

Mann Lake

Premier Bee Products