Next Apiary Session – SUNDAY, 1 – 3 PM
April 18, 2021
For this weekend, it looks like Sunday is going to be better than Saturday weather-wise – what else is new. Therefore, our apiary session this weekend is going to be on Sunday April 18th from 1 to 3 PM. Come on out and play with the bees!
Our Apiary Sessions are held at Historic Johnson Farm located at 3346 Haywood Rd, Hendersonville, NC 28791. This Sunday the session is 1:00 to 3:00. Click HERE for a map. The entrance by the sign is usually closed on Saturday and Sunday so use the exit and park in front of the Interpretive Center. The Apiary is in the back of the property so walk down the driveway and we should be in front of the equipment barn on the left.
Two ideas: 1) Your mentor is probably going into his or her hives right now (when it warms up to at least 55°) and maybe you could go over to his or her apiary and at least observe if not help. 2) If you are able and willing to attend an apiary session on a weekday, and you haven’t let us know yet, please drop a quick note to info@hcbeekeepers and let us know. Maybe we could work something out.
HCBA Monthly Meeting is Weds. April 21st
Dr. Tom Repas is a 4th generation beekeeper and winemaker who first began keeping bees in 1981 at age 13. He lives with his family in the Black Hills of western South Dakota where he breeds queen bees for sale to local beekeepers.
He focuses on breeding honey bees which are winter-hardy, gentle, productive, and tolerant of Varroa mites. Tom performs instrumental insemination of the queens in his breeding lines in order to have more control over the genetics of his breeding program. In June 2017 his article “Strategies for Small Queen Breeders to Improve Queen Quality” was published in the American Bee Journal. He is also certified as a Master Beekeeper through the University of Montana.
Besides keeping bees and rearing queens, Tom has been an avid maker of mead for almost thirty years. He has been honored to receive many awards related to the mead he makes and the education he has provided to other mead makers in making the best mead possible.
He is a BJCP certified Mead Judge and has won numerous medals for his mead in competitions, including the Mazer Cup International Home Best of Show in 2015 and 2017. The Mazer Cup is the largest and most respected mead only competition in the world. To date, he is the only entrant to have won the Mazer Cup Best of Show more than once.
In 2018, after coming in first place in a series of six mead-only competitions across the US, he was awarded the “National Mead Maker of the Year” by the American Mead Makers Association.
In 2021, Tom was honored and humbled to have been recognized by the American Mead Makers Association with the Ken Schramm Award which is awarded to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding involvement in the mead community, dedication to the promotion of mead overall, combined with a strong sense of determination and passion in helping others.
Beyond keeping bees, breeding queens, and making mead, Tom greatly enjoys teaching and helping others.
He has given presentations on beekeeping and/or mead making at the American Beekeeping Federation national annual meeting; the American Mead Makers Association Mead Makers annual national conferences; as well as many state/regional conferences across the US.
Henderson County Beekeepers Association
2021 Beekeeping School Recordings
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HCBA Meeting Minutes
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Request for Speaker
Requests for an HCBA guest speaker may be directed to HCBA Director of External Communications, Jim Poe, director1@hcbeekeepers.org
Stay Informed!
HCBA uses several communications vehicles:
- The website at click here will give a summary of club communications
- The calendar of Events click here will provide specific details on scheduled events such as topic, date, time, location and agenda. For directions via google maps, click on the icon next to the address.
- Newsletters will be published approx. monthly. For the most part, the content will mirror the website, with the addition of some unique articles. The Newsletter represents the monthly email you will receive from HCBA.
- Facebook click here (or search on Henderson County Beekeepers in facebook) will provide the opportunity to chat with fellow beekeepers via social media. Ask questions, post pictures, tell tall tales, share your beekeeping experiences. Although club communications will often find their way here, please use the website or Newsletter to stay abreast of events and happenings.
- Periodic ‘special’ emails, such as announcements of special speakers or programs, will be published as needs dictate.
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For event details please check our calendar of events
HCBA – Information by Beekeepers for Beekeepers!