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The annual auction to support new beekeeper grants will be Monday, October 8th. The Blount County Beekeepers Association in conjunction with the Tennessee Beekeepers Association offers new beekeeper grants in the spring of each year. The TBA provides 2 grants, and BCBA provides 3 additional grants each year. We generate the funds to cover the costs of the hive components and packages of bees by having an auction each fall.
Members are asked to bring any be related items they have to donate to the auction. We request that if items are used, such as hive tools, smokers, etc. that they be clean and disinfected. We ask that no used wooden ware be donated. New wooden ware is greatly appreciated.
We also love to have other items that may not be bee related, but great for the beekeepers! We have auctioned fresh eggs, pies, cakes, jewelry, clothing, hand made crafts, paintings, wood turnings etc. and have had quite some auction battles over these items! Anything you would like to donate would be appreciated, as this is our sole fundraiser for the grants.
So, bring your items and your check book to the October meeting and plan on having a great time!
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Fall is a busy time for East Tennessee Beekeepers! There are many events taking place in our local area that may appeal to you. Just a few-
Tennessee Valley Fair- September 7-16th. Please come by the honey show and see the honey and association exhibits. You may also volunteer to work the exhibit, answering questions from the visitors. Visit Blount County Beekeepers Association on Facebook for link to calendar to volunteer.
Blue Ribbon Country Fair at the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center- September 29th. In it’s 12th year this year! Come by the Honey Show and see the exhibit, and visit all the other exhibits including Poultry, Woodworking, Photography, Canned goods, etc.
Tennessee Beekeepers Association Fall Conference- October 12-13th. Visit the TBA website for information and to register. Early registration ends September 28th. There is also a Honey Show competition with the conference!
Blount County Beekeeper Association will Sponsor a Field Day for New Beekeepers
At Charlie Parton’s farm Saturday April 28th at 10:00 am
1768 East Brown School Rd. Maryville
There will be a sign at the driveway (Beekeepers Field Day)
Bring Safety Equipment: veil, gloves and long sleeves
Guided by an experienced beekeeper you will learn
- Proper way to open a hive and remove frames
- To identify eggs, larva, capped brood, pollen and honey
- Identify queen, workers and drones
After a light lunch anyone who wishes will be able to tour the Honey House. There will be time to ask questions or just hang around and talk. We hope it will be a good experience for all.
Rain date Saturday May 5th
Charlie Parton 865-776-1875
Chuck Davis President BCBA 566-3690
Phil Craft
Phil served as the Kentucky State Apiarist from 1999 through 2011. He is a graduate of Oberlin College in Ohio (BA in biology), and of the University of Kentucky. Phil continues to communicate with beekeepers through his “Ask Phil” question/answer column which appears in Bee Culture magazine, and through his webpage, Philcrafthivecraft.com. He is also the U.S. technical adviser for Veto-pharma, the maker of Apivar, and Varroa Easy Check. A native of the mountains of Eastern Kentucky, he now lives out in the sticks in the Bluegrass region of Kentucky near Lexington with his family, a very old dog, and some bee hives. You may send questions to Phil at phil@philcrafthivecraft.com.
BCBA will be hosting a wooden ware workshop on Saturday, March 17th beginning at 9 am at the Masonic lodge in Alcoa (corner of Wright Road and Vose Street). This is an opportunity for anyone interested in putting their hives together with the help of some seasoned beekeepers. You will be shown the correct way to put together the hive bodies and frames, and will go over how to maintain your equipment. There is no charge for the class. It should end around lunch time.
For more information or questions:
Chuck Davis- 566-3690
Harlen Breeden- 719-1828
The Blount County Beekeepers Association will be offering an additional beekeeping class on March 10th at 9 am at Maryville Church of Christ. You must register for the class with Stacey Adair to receive class materials by March 1st. You may still come if not registered, however we may not have additional materials for you to take home.
Please click on the download link below for more information, who to register with and address for the church. Hope to see everyone there!
The State of Tennessee requires a minimum of 1,000 pre-orders to start the production process of the new plate. The Tennessee Department of Revenue estimates that after it receives the pre-orders, it will take 4-6 months for plates to arrive at local county clerk offices.
*If we do not receive 1,000 pre-orders by June 1, 2018, you will receive a refund of the $35.00, but not your $2.10 credit card processing fee.*
*The design of the license plate displayed above will be approved by the State of Tennessee once the 1,000 plates are pre-ordered. There is a chance the State of Tennessee could make changes to the design as needed. Refunds cannot be made in this scenario.*
*You may not pre-order a plate if you live outside of Tennessee and your vehicle is not registered in Tennessee.*
https://honeybeetn.org/#licenseplates
The Blount County Beekeepers Association will be hosting an inspectors class put on by State Apiarist Mike Studer. The class will be on 2 consecutive evenings, February 26th and 27th from 5 pm to 9 pm at the Maryville Church of Christ, 611 Sherwood Drive.
A $10 fee will be charged for participants to cover the expense of the meeting room. The requirements to take the class are to have been beekeeping for at least 5 years, and to have preferably taken the TN Basic Master Beekeeping course from John Skinner with UT extension. The class will be limited to 20 attendees.
Participants who successfully complete the course will be qualified to work with the state association inspectors grants programs for the state of Tennessee.
If you would like to register and reserve your spot in the class, please contact Stacey Adair at blountbees@charter.net, or by text/phone 1-865-254-2500. Spots will be reserved on a first come first serve basis.
Please join us for an informative course on how to get started in beekeeping. There is no charge to attend, and everyone is welcome!
The meeting will take place at Maryville Church of Christ, 611 Sherwood Drive across from Shoney’s restaurant.
Topics of discussion will include setting up an apiary, personal protective gear, when and where to get bees, and other important topics for beginning beekeepers. We will also have 3 beekeeping vendors at the meeting who will be happy to show you all the equipment you will need to get started.
Contact information and other information is listed on the link to the flyer above. Hope to see you there!
