Topics and Presenters
Topics are listed in Alphabetical order with their respective presenters on the right. Click the topic or presenter to view details. Go here for a grid view of the Schedule.
A Practical Guide to Queen Rearing
(Intermediate, Advanced)
Re-queening hives is a common task that many beekeepers use to maintain the health of their hive. But if you have more than a couple of hives, this can get somewhat expensive. This class will show you how to raise your own queens.
Time/Room
9:00 – 9:50 pm – Room 4
Steve Brackman
Steve Brackman was raised on a dairy farm in Northern Illinois and lived there until 1985 when he moved to Texas. Steve began his beekeeping career over 25 years ago; starting out by doing over 2400 removals. Today he focuses on being a queen breeder which he’s been doing for the last 10 years.
Advanced Hive Management Techniques
(Intermediate, Advanced)
Re-queening hives is a common task that many beekeepers use to maintain the health of their hive. But if you have more than a couple of hives, this can get somewhat expensive. This class will show you how to raise your own queens.
Time/Room
8:00 – 8:50 am – Room 5
Nathalie B.
Nathalie B. is a certified Master Beekeeper with 14 years’ experience in a wide variety of hives. A trilingual French transplant and a successful entrepreneur, she decided to start her own beekeeping operation to make her true passion her business, managing 400 colonies across 45 out yards. She now owns Bee Mindful, a successful beekeeping school and farm where she offers beekeeping apprenticeships, workshops and classes in sustainable and natural beekeeping, professional AG exemption services, as well as affordable top-bar hives and treatment-free bees.
Nathalie is passionate about community outreach and volunteering and has worked tirelessly to create free and inclusive training programs and teaching apiaries for refugees in Congo, Nigeria, and Texas that teach beekeeping as a source of dignified and secure income for all.
CONTACT: www.Bee-Mindful.com
Advanced Top Bar Hives
(Intermediate, Advanced)
Topics will include advanced bar manipulations, handling comb collapse and cross comb, making splits, and how to transfer a Langstroth nuc into a top bar hive the fast way. This class goes beyond the “what and the why” of Top Bar Hives 1 & 2 into topics that will take your top bar beekeeping to the next level.
1:10 – 2:00 pm – Room 9
Brandon Fehrenkamp
Brandon Fehrenkamp is the owner of Austin Bees, specializing in bee removals, top bar hives and consulting. Brandon began beekeeping on a whim in 2003 and started doing live removals in 2005. He has extensive experience safely removing hives in densely populated areas. He regularly speaks at schools and events to educate the public, is mentor to the UT Beekeeping Club, Beevo, and manages the glass observation hive at the Austin Nature & Science Center.
CONTACT: austinbeewranglers@gmail.com
Advantages of Top-Entrance Langstroth Hives
(Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced)
The bottom entrance design in Langstroth hives is the Achilles heel of the design, but otherwise I love Langstroth hives. Come learn how I’ve overcome this design flaw.
1:10 – 2:00 pm – Room 4
Tony Andric
Tony Andric is a recovering computer/electrical engineer, addicted beekeeper, makes doors for chickens?, has zero life insurance, lives near Lockhart, Texas (BBQ capital of Texas), old, fat, white, bald, bearded guy (1967 model), married, uses Langstroth mediums only with top entrances, survival genetics & is treatment free.
CONTACT: sales@allmybees.com
AgriLife Resources for Beginning Beekeepers
(Beginner)
This talk highlights key resources available to support beekeepers in managing healthy, productive colonies. Topics include accessing educational programs, like the Texas Master Beekeeping Program, fact sheets, and other programs offered by Texas A&M
11:10 – 12:00 am – Room 9
Dr. Garett Slater
Dr. Garett Slaterhas 18 years of beekeeping experience. In 2022, he obtained his PhD from Purdue University. In 2024, he became an Assistant Professor at Texas A&M University as the state’s Apiculture Extension Specialist. Garett’s current research focuses on developing cheap genomic tools to help beekeepers select bees for natural defenses towards Varroa, pathogens, and other diseases. Additionally, Garett provides extension support to beekeepers across the state.
CONTACT: garett.slater@ag.tamu.edu
Annual Maintenance
(Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced)
Let’s talk about beekeeping seasons. Learning the behaviors and goals of the honeybees helps lead to better management throughout the seasons. We’ll break down the seasons by discussing the best management practices and how to make decisions when inspecting your hives.
5Time/Room
12:10 – 1:00 pm – Room 9
3:20 – 4:10 pm – Room 5
Ashley Ralph
Ashley Ralph owns Prime Bees in College Station along with her husband, Justin, where she raises queens, hosts educational events, and manages bees throughout the surrounding areas. Her passion for bees grew rapidly after getting their first bee package and she enjoys learning and sharing about honeybees with anybody who will listen. Ashley is a Texas Master Beekeeper because she thought it would be an efficient and fun way to learn more about bees – she was right, it has led to an adventure in continuous learning.
CONTACT: ashley@primebees.com
Beekeeping 101 Basic Beekeeping Parts 1 & 2
(Beginner, Intermediate)
Making the leap into beekeeping can be daunting. This class starts by demystifying some of the choices beginning beekeepers face in terms of getting bees, choosing equipment, and setting up your apiary. It then transitions into the knowledge and skills you will need to be a successful beekeeper.
• Getting Started: choosing your bees, equipment, and apiary setup.
• Honeybee Biology: bee development and identifying different bees, resources, and problems in your hive.
• Beekeeping Skills and Hive Management: how to work a hive, what you are looking for, and how to set your bees up for success.
Time/Room
Part 1 – 8:00 – 9:15 am – Room 1
Part 2 – 9:35- 11:00 am – Room 1
Lauren Ward
Lauren Ward is the owner of A Bar Beekeeping, providing hive management services, beekeeping lessons, and professional presentations. Lauren has had a lifelong interest in insects and agriculture, culminating in a Master’s degree in Entomology and a Board Certification in Entomology. A Bar Beekeeping now services more than 500 hives across Central Texas.
CONTACT: ABarBeekeeping@gmail.com
Beekeeping 201 – Advanced Beekeeping – Parts 1 & 2
(Intermediate, Advanced)
This will be a fast-paced whirlwind presentation discussing: the Golden Rules of Beekeeping, nutrition management, diseases control, comb rotation, colony combining, re-queening, Integrated Pest Management, swarm prevention and control techniques. You should bring a pen and paper and be prepared to cover a lot of material.
Part 1 – 8:00 – 9:50 am – Room 8
Part 2 – 10:10 – 11:00 am – Room 8
Dodie Stillman
Dodie Stillman began attending meetings of the Austin Area Beekeepers and Williamson County Area Beekeepers Associations in 2011. She was part of the inaugural class of the Texas Master Beekeepers Program, becoming one of the first seven Master Beekeepers in Texas. Dodie currently serves on the TMBP board. Over the past five years, she worked with the Texas Beekeepers Association board, including serving as president, and is now active on the Legislative Committee and co-chairs the Honey Show. Additionally, she teaches beekeeping classes at Texas Honey Bee Farm and The Bee Supply.
CONTACT: stillmandodie@gmail.com
Beekeeping for Kids
(Beginner)
Beekeeping is not only an exciting and fulfilling hobby, but it’s also an educational activity that helps kids connect with nature, learn about responsibility, and contribute to environmental conservation. Teaching children about bees and how to care for them offers a unique opportunity to foster a love for science and the natural world while helping protect one of the planet’s most essential pollinators!
1:00 – 2:00 pm – Room 5
Danessa Yaschuk
Danessa Yaschuk, known by many as ‘Nes’ is a sideliner and Master beekeeper. She is the owner of SweetNes Honey Apiaries & Beetique located in Needville, Texas. She and her husband Brent and two sons Benjamin & Nicholas manage approximately 400+ hives located throughout Fort Bend County. She served 5 years as the Vice President of the Fort Bend Beekeepers Association and is now on her second year as the President of the club. Danessa is on the board of Directors for the Real Texas Honey Program and on the Executive Committee for the Texas Beekeepers Association. Not only does she run bees, but she is also an authorized dealer for Mann Lake Bee Supply.
CONTACT: nes@sweetneshoney.com
Bees for Ag. Exemption
(Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced)
In 2012, the state of Texas changed the law to allow Beekeeping to qualify as an agricultural activity which can qualify the land for a 1-d-1 open space valuation (“exemption”) for your property taxes. This class details what this law requires, presented by the man who helped write the law.
11:10 – 12:00 pm – Room 8
1:10 – 2:00 pm – Room 8
Dennis Herbert
Dennis Herbert is a native central Texan and drafted the original legislation for the current bee law that assists small landowners in receiving their agricultural valuation if they wish to raise bees on their property. He helped shepherd the bill through the legislature in 2011, it became law on January 1, 2012. He has been a beekeeper in Bell County for 18 years.
Catching and Keeping Swarms
(Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced)
We’ll discuss how to be prepared for swarm season, easily capture swarms and keep them alive. Get tips and tricks for capturing swarms as well as how to ensure they’ll be healthy and thrive.
Time/Room
2:10 – 3:00 pm – Room 2
Justin Russell
Justin Russell owns and operates Prime Bees in College Station along with his wife, Ashley, where he manages between 1000-1500 colonies of bees and growing. Justin is also the Operations Manager for Desert Creek Pollination who places 50-100,000 hives for beekeepers in the California almonds. He continues to grow his business where he sells live bees, educates, does professional bee removal, manages bees on others’ properties, raises queen bees, and everything in between. Justin is a blunt and practical beekeeper that is focused on results.
CONTACT: justin@primebees.com
Cooking with Honey
(Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced)
Honey has a myriad of benefits over white sugar, and in this class you will learn about those benefits plus how to swap honey for sugar in recipes, creative ways to use honey in your kitchen everyday, and how to create unique honey infusions.
Time/Room
11:10 – 12:00 pm – Room 5
Carla Salas
Carla Salas started beekeeping as a hobby with 6 hives in Hutto, TX in April 2021, Carla started beekeeping as a hobby with 6 hives. She fell in love with bees and wanted to learn all she could about them. She took an apprenticeship class at Two Hives Honey in the fall of 2021. This eventually led to her part time job as a Tour Guide at Two Hives Honey in the Spring of 2023. As a tour guide at Two Hives, Carla shares her love of honeybees by leading hive tours. She also served as the 2023 Vice President for Austin Area Beekeepers Association. When Carla is not working, talking or thinking about bees, she is taking care of her chickens and garden
Emerging Pests: Yellow-Legged Hornets & Tropliaelaps Mites
(Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced)
Murder hornets, yellow-legged wasps, tropilaelaps mites. Should we be concerned? This session will cover how each affects honey bees, the potential for becoming established here, and how beekeepers currently manage these pests.
3:20 – 4:10 pm – Room 7
Lynne Jones
Lynne Jones is a small-scale beekeeper in Sealy and owner of Brazos River Honey. She serves as the Secretary-Treasurer of the Fort Bend Beekeepers Association and is a member of the Central Texas Beekeepers Association. She is an original member of the Real Texas Honey program and is currently at the Advanced level of the Texas Master Beekeeper program.
CONTACT: emaillynne@yahoo.com
Flow Hive
(Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced)
The Flow Hive is inspiring thousands of new beekeepers around the world. It takes the hard work out of harvesting honey and makes it a lot less stressful for the bees. Nanette will share her tips on using the Flow Hive and troubleshoot concerns..
Time/Room
11:10 – 12:00 pm – Room 2
Nanette Davis
Nanette Davis, is a Master level Texas Master Beekeeper (Pollination and Botany) and the director of the Montgomery County Youth Beekeepers Program. She enjoys gardening, taking pictures of bees, and beekeeping. She has been a beekeeper for 15 years, utilizing both traditional hives and Flow Hives.
CONTACT : ndavis.aba@gmail.com
From Lab to Hive – My Journey through the Beekeeping World
(Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced)
My journey in biology and beekeeping has been shaped by academic research and practical experience. Through UTSA’s Honey Pathway, I’ve studied the medicinal properties of Texas honeys and the fascinating behavior of honeybees during celestial events. Completing a beekeeping apprenticeship further connected me to the world of pollinators, deepening my commitment to protecting honeybees, promoting sustainability, and educating the public about their vital role in agriculture and ecosystems. As the 2025 Texas Honey Queen, I look forward to sharing my story, research, and practical tips for supporting these essential pollinators.
Time/Room
2:10 – 3:00 pm – Room 4
Oceanna Escribano
Oceanna Escribano, the 2025 Texas Honey Queen, is a biology student at UTSA with a focus on plant biology. She has explored the medicinal potential of Texas honeys and studied honeybee behavior, presenting her research at statewide and national events. An apprentice-certified beekeeper, Oceanna brings a unique blend of academic insight and hands-on experience to her advocacy for pollinator protection and sustainable beekeeping practices.
Getting Stung More
(Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced)
Beekeepers are often inclined to avoid stings, and with good reason, but this class will help you consider the benefits to be found in a cautious move towards exposing yourself to potential stings more frequently. We will explore how this can improve your physical reaction to stings, your comfort levels around your bees, your dexterity in handling, and even keep you safer in case of mishaps. Discussion will include risks involved in sting events as well as how to ease yourself safely towards additional exposure to your bees and will leave you thinking about how getting stung more can make you a better beekeeper.
Time/Room
12:10 – 1:00 pm – Room 7
Ryan Giesecke
Ryan Giesecke owns and operates G-Bar Naturals, an urban homestead project located in East Dallas. From there he periodically offers homegrown products and learning opportunities, as well as performing bee-friendly removals of honeybees and bumble bees as “Honeybee Relocation Services”. Ryan loves to talk bees and has done so all across the state. He is president of Texas Association of Professional Bee Removers, past president of Trinity Valley Beekeepers Association in Dallas, past president of Metro Beekeepers Association in Fort Worth, and a Texas Master Beekeeper.
CONTACT: ryangiesecke@gmail.com
Growing from Small Scale to Sideliner
(Intermediate, Advanced)
So you want to make money with bees? It’s easier than you might think here in Texas. Join Charlie as he shares his journey from backyard hobbyist to full-time commercial beekeeper, with lots of insider tips and tricks for scaling from small-scale to sideliner and beyond.
Time/Room
10:10 – 11:00 pm – Room 3
Charlie Agar
Charlie Agar and his wife Kaye run Charlie Bee Company, a bee school and agritourism site in Seguin offering classes, tours and selling bees and equipment. Charlie and his team manage over 300 ag lease colonies , do live bee removals and relocations all across Central Texas. His work is the subject of the Charlie Bee Company reality series on PBS – stay tuned for Season 2 announcements coming soon!
CONTACT: info@charliebee.com
Honey for Nanoparticles & Spotted Lanternfly Honey
(Intermediate, Advanced)
Four topics will be described by students from UT San Antonio that are studying under Dr. Ferhat Ozturk:
– Honey for Nanoparticles
– Spotted Lanternfly Honey
– Honey and Diabetes
– Honey for Candida Auris
These are cutting edge research projects that have the potential to significantly benefit both the medical industry and beekeepers
Time/Room
10:10 – 11:00 pm – Room 3
University of San Antonio Students
Students studying under the direction for Dr. Ferhat Ozturk at the University of San Antonio will describe their research topics and their analysis of the data that they are collecting.
CONTACT: info@charliebee.com
Honey Bee Behavior
(Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced)
Honeybee behavior in a colony is driven by pheromones. We will break down the many pheromones emitted by different castes and stages of brood, sharing how they affect all honey bee behaviors from promoting (or preventing) queen rearing, foraging, mating, swarming, defensive behaviors and much more. By understanding how these pheromones work you can better recognize what’s happening in your hive, react when needed, and even prevent unwanted behaviors through anticipatory beekeeping.
Time/Room
2:10 – 3:00 pm – Room 5
Carla Salas
Carla Salas started beekeeping as a hobby with 6 hives in Hutto, TX in April 2021, Carla started beekeeping as a hobby with 6 hives. She fell in love with bees and wanted to learn all she could about them. She took an apprenticeship class at Two Hives Honey in the fall of 2021. This eventually led to her part time job as a Tour Guide at Two Hives Honey in the Spring of 2023. As a tour guide at Two Hives, Carla shares her love of honeybees by leading hive tours. She also served as the 2023 Vice President for Austin Area Beekeepers Association. When Carla is not working, talking or thinking about bees, she is taking care of her chickens and garden.
Honey Bee Biology
(Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced)
This is a basic overview of beekeeping biology. Understanding the biology of bees can lead you to be a better beekeeper by giving you a better understanding of “how bees work” – the more you know about bee biology, the more you’ll understand how to make good management decisions as a beekeeper.
Time/Room
2:10 – 3:00 pm – Room 7
Lynne Jones
Lynne Jones is a small-scale beekeeper in Sealy and owner of Brazos River Honey. She serves as the Secretary-Treasurer of the Fort Bend Beekeepers Association and is a member of the Central Texas Beekeepers Association. She is an original member of the Real Texas Honey program and is currently at the Advanced level of the Texas Master Beekeeper program.
CONTACT: emaillynne@yahoo.com
Honey Bee Lineages: Lineages found in the US
(Intermediate, Advanced)
Honey bee lineages: Lineages found in the US: Tonya will look at what subspecies were imported to the US and when, with some commentary on the subspecies known traits, what subspecies have been genetically confirmed to be present today, and what factors might influence genetic diversity of the populations we currently have (buying queens, migratory beekeeping, parasite and disease pressure) as we do not import subspecies.
Time/Room
3:20 – 4:10 pm – Room 4
Tonya Shepherd
Tonya Shepherd received her B.S. from the University of Evansville in biochemistry and received her Ph.D. in Medical Science from Texas A&M University, College of Medicine, Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology department. In 2017, she joined Dr. Juliana Rangel Honey Bee Lab in the Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, as an Associate and Assistant Lecturer.
CONTACT: Tonya.Shepherd@ag.tamu.edu
Honey for Nanoparticles & Spotted Lanternfly Honey
(Intermediate, Advanced)
Four topics will be described by students from UT San Antonio that are studying under Dr. Ferhat Ozturk:
– Honey for Nanoparticles
– Spotted Lanternfly Honey
– Honey and Diabetes
– Honey for Candida Auris
These are cutting edge research projects that have the potential to significantly benefit both the medical industry and beekeepers
Time/Room
10:10 – 11:00 pm – Room 3
University of San Antonio Students
Students studying under the direction for Dr. Ferhat Ozturk at the University of San Antonio will describe their research topics and their analysis of the data that they are collecting.
CONTACT: info@charliebee.com
Honey Bee Nutrition
(Beginner, Intermediate)
In this course, you’ll learn about the nutritional needs of the colony, as we try to answer the age-old question “Should I be feeding my bees?” We will learn the basics of honeybee nutrition, and how the needs of the colony change through the season.
2:10 – 3:00 pm – Room 3
Becky Barajas
Becky Barajas has been an avid beekeeper for 12 years. As a passionate educator, she loves to learn and teach all about the amazing bug that she has dedicated her life to, the honey bee. Becky has volunteered her time through dozens of positions within the industry- from local bee clubs to national organizations. She has been the store manager of The Bee Supply in Round Rock since it’s opening in 2023, and loves to travel to 14 different bee clubs all over Central Texas. Her favorite thing about keeping bees is learning everything she can from the bees themselves and others.
CONTACT: becky@thebeesupply.com
Honey Extracting
(Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced)
This class is a demonstration with lots of practical information. We will talk about how to get honey supers from the hive and demonstrate how to uncap and spin out the honey.
Time/Room
12:10 – 1:00 pm – Room 6
1:10 – 2:00 pm – Room 6
2:10 – 3:00 pm – Room 6
Shelly Rice
Shelley Rice is an accomplished beekeeper whose first introduction to the world of honeybees came in 2003 when she read “The Secret Life of Bees”. Although largely self-taught, early on she benefitted from a membership in the Houston Beekeepers Association. Since then Shelley has mentored numerous others, young and old, who want to get involved in this wonderful avocation.
CONTACT: shelleydrice@gmail.com
Honey Production vs. Bee Production
(Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced)
Do you want to optimize bee production or honey production from your colonies? What if you want both? Is that doable? Under what circumstances are both objectives feasible?
Time/Room
9:00 – 9:50 am – Room 7
James and Chari Elam
James and Chari Elam owners of Blue Ribbon Honey Company and former owners of Bluebonnet Beekeeping (now part of The Bee Supply), have been deeply involved in the beekeeping industry since 2012. Over the years, they have held various board positions within the industry as well as with local and state organizations. Chari serves as the Content and Education Manager for Desert Creek Honey, The Bee Supply, and Commercial Bee Supply. She is also the co-creator and Editor/Writer of TBS Monthly (formerly The Bee Supply Monthly). Although retired, James continues to enjoy mentoring, writing articles, and staying engaged with the beekeeping industry.
CONTACT : chari.elam@desertcreekhoney.com
Honey to Profit in 1 1/2 Years
(Intermediate, Advanced)
Justin will share how he and Ashley have successfully grown Prime Bees into a successful business. While their model may not be what you want to do, their underlying business principles will be applicable.
Time/Room
8:00 – 8:50 am – Room 2
Justin Russell
Justin Russell owns and operates Prime Bees in College Station along with his wife, Ashley, where he manages between 1000-1500 colonies of bees and growing. Justin is also the Operations Manager for Desert Creek Pollination who places 50-100,000 hives for beekeepers in the California almonds. He continues to grow his business where he sells live bees, educates, does professional bee removal, manages bees on others’ properties, raises queen bees, and everything in between. Justin is a blunt and practical beekeeper that is focused on results.
CONTACT: justin@primebees.com
How Do I Inspect My Hive
(Beginner, Intermediate)
The basis for all successful beekeepers is the ability to do a thorough hive inspection, and from it gather information needed to manage the hive effectively. Learn as we go through each of the steps needed to confidently make decisions based on what you observe.
Time/Room
12:10 – 1:00 pm – Room 1
2:10 – 3:00 pm – Room 1
Rex Smith
Rex Smith has been beekeeping for 15 years; and for the last 13 years as his full-time vocation. His passion for bees started after being challenged to make his garden produce more – without using chemicals in the garden. Rex provides beekeeping services in the form of bees and hive management for land ag. valuation, as well as honey production and sales. He resides in N. Texas and is the past President of the Texas Association of Professional Bee Removers trade organization.
CONTACT: harmonyhollowbees@gmail.com
How to Light Your Smoker
(Beginner, Intermediate)
A demonstration on how to light a smoker and keep it going. Included is a discussion of WHY beekeepers use smoke (as opposed to ‘other things’) and what fuels to use. Learn the importance of making sure your smoker is lit before starting to work your bees. You DON’T want to have your smoker go out when you REALLY need it during an inspection of a hive of aggressive bees!
Time/Room
1:00 – 4:00 pm – Ag. Building
Billy Lawton
Billy Lawton got his start in beekeeping from attending programs sponsored by the Central Texas Beekeepers Association. He has been actively keeping or being kept by bees for over 10 years. Mr. Lawton is actively engaged in introducing beekeeping to small property owners around the State.
Kevin Stillman
Kevin Stillman is a professional photographer. He retired from the Texas Highway Department and became a full-time honeybee assistant to his wife Dodie. She only lets him light the smoker, lift heavy boxes, and dispatch old queens, so he’s become very proficient.
How To Set Up Your Apiary & What to Order
(Beginner)
How to Set Up Your Apiary & What to Order –
This class talks about how to decide WHERE to put the hives on your property, as well as some details on HOW to get them set up. We will also cover a succinct list of the things you NEED to buy, the things you SHOULD buy, and the things you DON’T NEED.
11:10 – 12:00 am – Room 10
1:10 – 2:00 pm – Room 10
Chris Doggett
Chris Doggett received a degree in Mathematics at Bristol University in England in 1967 and moved to the United States in 1984. After a career in sales and management of electronics manufacturing companies, he retired in 2002. He lives in Thrall, TX where he has been a beekeeper for fourteen years. He is a past president of Williamson County Area Beekeepers Association and is a past director of the Texas Beekeepers Association (TBA).
CONTACT: ckdoggett@mindspring.com
Integrated Pest Management
(Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced)
This presentation will cover how to control different pests in a honeybee colony using an Integrated Pest Management approach.
12:10 – 1:00 pm – Room 8
Angela Steinhauer
Angela is the Texas Chief Apiary Inspector.
Keeping Bees Calm
(Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced)
Bees do not sting because they are mean, they sting because they are afraid. When we open a beehive there are subtle actions we can take and avoid that make our time more like dancing with our little buddies rather than working through a hive of mean bees. The bees, beekeepers, neighbors and family are all better off if we can notice the things we do that keep bees calm.
Time/Room
3:20 – 4:10 pm – Room 10
Les Crowder
Les Crowder began keeping bees in Bernalillo, New Mexico 40+ years ago. He began early on to search for ways to regularly renew the combs in beehives because research indicated that old cocoon laden combs become havens for pathogenic fungi and bacteria that stress the bee’s resistance to disease. This led him to experiment with top bar hives and eventually begin using them exclusively for a small 100-200 hive honey and beeswax business in New Mexico. He has taught beekeeping in many parts of the world for more than 30 years. He and Heather Harrell co-authored the book Top-Bar Beekeeping published by Chelsea Green in 2012, soon to be published in Spanish. He continues to teach and advocate non-toxic management of beehives near Austin.
CONTACT: ldcbee@gmail.com
Lastest Research on Varroa Mites
(Intermediate, Advanced)
This talk explores cutting-edge research on Varroa, the parasitic mite that remains a leading threat to honeybee colonies worldwide. Topics include advancements in mite-resistant bee breeding programs, innovative monitoring techniques, and the development of more effective and sustainable treatment options.
9:000 – 9:50 am – Room 3
Garett Slater
Dr. Garett Slater has 18 years of beekeeping experience. In 2022, he obtained his PhD from Purdue University. In 2024, he became an Assistant Professor at Texas A&M University as the state’s Apiculture Extension Specialist. Garett’s current research focuses on developing cheap genomic tools to help beekeepers select bees for natural defenses towards Varroa, pathogens, and other diseases. Additionally, Garett provides extension support to beekeepers across the state.
CONTACT: garett.slater@ag.tamu.edu
Live Bee Demonstration
Hive Inspection WITH LIVE BEES (Michelle Pankonien, bees provided by Bear Creek Apiary) –
(Beginner, Intermediate)
Want to put on a bee suit and take a look inside a hive full of bees? This is where it happens. Weather permitting.
NO FLIP FLOPS, SANDALS OR OPEN-TOED SHOES.
Time/Room
1:00 – 4:10 pm – Ag. Building
Michelle Kerr Pankonien
Michelle Pankonien lives in College Station. She is a Master Beekeeper in the Texas Master Beekeeping Program. Michelle utilizes beeswax for her Bee Natural Moisturizer and Heel Balms. She utilizes over 30 years of feeding livestock to help keep her bees have strong nervous systems through better nutrition. She is a treatment free beekeeper who utilizes nutrition and genetic diversity to maintain over 40 honeybee colonies in 6 counties in & around Brazos County.
CONTACT: Michelle@busybeeapiary.net
Saundra Smith
Saundra Smith was an organizing member of both the Brazos Bee Club in College Station and the Denton Bee Club. She currently is a mentor to veterans with Hives for Heroes and is the beekeeper for the hives at the President George W Bush Library in Dallas.
Dodie Stillman
Dodie Stillman started attending the Austin Area Beekeepers (AABA) and Williamson County Area Beekeepers Associations meetings in 2011. She was in the inaugural class of the Texas Master Beekeepers Program and became one of the first seven official Master Beekeepers in the State of Texas, and now serves on the TMBP board. Dodie spent a year as the President of the Texas Beekeepers
Make Sure Your Bees are Not in Your Neighbor’s Hot Tub
(Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced)
When it is hot and/or dry honeybees need water. A simple water feature placed wisely (not too close to the hives) can supply safe dependable water whenever they need it. Keep them from gathering by the hundreds at a swimming pool or hot tub where they can be a bother. How to set up a beautiful water gathering place for the bees that absorb mosquitoes out of your neighborhood. Natural biology really works. The bees win, we win, the damselflies win, the mosquitoes not so much and that’s alright by me.
Time/Room
11:10 – 12:00 am – Room 3
Les Crowder
Les Crowder began keeping bees in Bernalillo, New Mexico 40+ years ago. He began early on to search for ways to regularly renew the combs in beehives because research indicated that old cocoon laden combs become havens for pathogenic fungi and bacteria that stress the bee’s resistance to disease. This led him to experiment with top bar hives and eventually begin using them exclusively for a small 100-200 hive honey and beeswax business in New Mexico. He has taught beekeeping in many parts of the world for more than 30 years. He and Heather Harrell co-authored the book Top-Bar Beekeeping published by Chelsea Green in 2012, soon to be published in Spanish. He continues to teach and advocate non-toxic management of beehives near Austin.
CONTACT: ldcbee@gmail.com
Making Splits
(Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced)
There are dozens of ways to split a hive; most of them have specific uses for WHY you are wanting or needing to split a hive: Increasing the number of hives, preventing swarming, calming down an aggressive hive are just some of those reasons. This class will look at the reasons you might want to split your hives and different methods for accomplishing your goals.
Time/Room
11:10 – 12:00 pm – Room 1
1:10 – 2:00 pm – Room 1
James and Chari Elam
James and Chari Elam owners of Blue Ribbon Honey Company and former owners of Bluebonnet Beekeeping (now part of The Bee Supply), have been deeply involved in the beekeeping industry since 2012. Over the years, they have held various board positions within the industry as well as with local and state organizations. Chari serves as the Content and Education Manager for Desert Creek Honey, The Bee Supply, and Commercial Bee Supply. She is also the co-creator and Editor/Writer of TBS Monthly (formerly The Bee Supply Monthly). Although retired, James continues to enjoy mentoring, writing articles, and staying engaged with the beekeeping industry.
CONTACT : chari.elam@desertcreekhoney.com
Managing Mean Bees
(Advanced)
When Africanized bees were first brought to South America, it was because they had some traits that were desirable. This program looks at the useful properties that “hot bees” possess as well as how to live and work with them, safely.
Time/Room
8:00 – 8:50 am – Room 4
Tony Andric
Tony Andricis a recovering computer/electrical engineer, addicted beekeeper, makes doors for chickens?, has zero life insurance, lives near Lockhart, Texas (BBQ capital of Texas), old, fat, white, bald, bearded guy (1967 model), married, uses Langstroth mediums only with top entrances, survival genetics & is treatment free.
CONTACT: sales@allmybees.com
Mead 101
(Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced)
In this session, you will learn all about the most ancient of beverages, Mead or Honeywine. What is mead? How old is it? How is it made? All these questions will be answered, and you will also learn how to make your own batch at home!
Time/Room
11:10 – 12:00 pm – Room 7
Jeff Murray
Jeff Murray is co-owner of WildFlyer Mead in Navasota TX. The Wildflyers are a dynamic foursome, composed of a couple of Weavers and a couple Murrays. Jeff is the mead maker. The Artist if you will. He makes the magic happen. By magic, that really means dumping and mixing honey, chopping fruit, etc.
CONTACT: info@wildflyermead.com
Native Bees and Their Biology
(Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced)
Our bees face a diverse landscape of competing resources and anthropogenic threats. It is our job to provide suitable habitats and floral resources for their success. This course will cover the biodiversity and biology of native bees in your backyard along with how you can transform your landscape into a pollinator habitat that supports your honeybee colonies and wild native bees. By implementing these practices, we can help ensure the survival of native and honeybee populations.
12:10 – 1:00 pm – Room 10
Keegan Nichols
Howdy! My name is Keegan Nichols, and I am a football player turned bee enthusiast from Cedar Park, TX. I discovered my passion for entomology while studying the biodiversity and biology of native bees. Now, I am an entomology Ph.D. student in Dr. Rangel’s honeybee lab. Currently, I am working with Saudi Arabia to classify the diseases and reproductive behavior of their native honeybee subspecies. My future research interests include factors that affect queen reproductive success and quality, as well as native and honeybee interactions.
Organic and Chemical Free Beekeeping
(Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced)
While the title is a bit morbid (and likely a bit overstated numerically), this talk will address some of the things we can do as beekeepers that inadvertently harm our colony’s odds of survival. This is a beekeeper-error-prevention talk, not a pest and disease talk. If you want to keep bees alive, knowing how you could kill them is a great place to start!
3:20 – 4:10 pm – Room 1
Nathalie B.
Nathalie B. is a certified Master Beekeeper with 14 years’ experience in a wide variety of hives. A trilingual French transplant and a successful
entrepreneur, she decided to start her own beekeeping operation to make her true passion her business, managing 400 colonies across 45 out yards. She now owns Bee Mindful, a successful beekeeping school and farm where she offers beekeeping apprenticeships, workshops and classes in sustainable and natural beekeeping, professional AG exemption services, as well as affordable top-bar hives and treatment-free bees.
Nathalie is passionate about community outreach and volunteering and has worked tirelessly to create free and inclusive training programs and teaching apiaries for refugees in Congo, Nigeria, and Texas that teach beekeeping as a source of dignified and secure income for all.
CONTACT: www.Bee-Mindful.com
Plants For You and Your Bees
(Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced)
This session uses bee biology and foraging habits as the foundation for choosing plants for landscapes. Learn which plants you can use to create desirable landscapes that also provide healthy forage for honeybees.
.
Time/Room
12:10 – 1:00 pm – Room 2
Michael Vidrine
Michael Vidrine was born and raised on the Texas Gulf coast, but I’ve lived in several different locations and climates as my company moved me around. We have always had orchards and gardens wherever we have lived from Northern Brazil to the Upper Midwest and 3 Locations in Texas. Currently we have a small acreage farm in Brazos county with 200 fruit trees, 100’s of grapes and berries, 50+ pecan trees and a large vegetable garden. I’ve been a beekeeper for 13 years with 10 colonies.
CONTACT: michael.vidrine@gmail.com
Potential of Texas Honey to be Classified as Medical Grade
(Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced)
For millennia, honey has served as a medicinal treasure. Its pure form offers a spectrum of health benefits, including antioxidants, antimicrobial properties, immune modulation, and anti-inflammatory potency. Dive into Dr. Ozturk’s talk, as he delves into the contemporary medical applications of honey, spotlighting the unique healing potential of medical-grade TX honeys.
10:10 – 11:00 am – Room 10
Ferhat Ozturk
Ferhat Ozturk earned his Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Biology from the University of Nevada, Reno. He served as the Director of the Honey Research Center in Turkey. He moved to San Antonio in 2018 and is an associate professor of instruction at UT San Antonio where he teaches Medicinal Properties of Honey. Dr. Ozturk recently established the HONEY Pathway as part of his USDA NextGen grant.
CONTACT : ferhat.ozturk@UTSA.edu
Products From the Hive, Utilizing Everything the Bees Produce
(Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced)
Learn how to make usable products from your beeswax and propolis.
Time/Room
10:10 – 11:00 am – Room 4
Michelle Pankonien
Michelle Pankonien lives in College Station. She is a Master Beekeeper in the Texas Master Beekeeping Program. Michelle utilizes beeswax for her Bee Natural Moisturizer and Heel Balms. She utilizes over 30 years of feeding livestock to help keep her bees have strong nervous systems through better nutrition. She is a treatment free beekeeper who utilizes nutrition and genetic diversity to maintain over 40 honeybee colonies in 6 counties in & around Brazos County.
CONTACT: Michelle@busybeeapiary.net
Properties of Honey & Crystallization
(Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced)
Crystallization of honey is a natural process, but one that most beekeepers don’t completely understand. We will learn about the properties and composition of honey, the four agents affecting crystallization and how improper storage can cause defects in your honey crystallization process.
3:20 – 4:10 pm – Room 9
Tara Chapman
Tara Chapman is the founder and owner of Two Hives Honey, a full service honey and beekeeping company serving Austin for almost a decade. Tara started her career working in intelligence for the federal government, but a chance beekeeping class inspired her to quit her job and become a beekeeper. An accomplished speaker and educator, she is asked to speak and educate beekeepers across the United States each year and has taught thousands of beekeepers in her ten year tenure. She has been featured on the Today Show, VICE Media, Amtrak’s magazine The National, and others. Tara’s beekeeping book, “For the Bees: A Handbook for Happy Beekeeping” was published by the University of Texas Press in November 2024.
CONTACT: tara@twohiveshoney.com
Re Queening Your Hive
(Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced)
In this class we will be covering when to replace your queen. Then cover a couple of ways to find your queen. Finally covering the process of requeening your colony with a purchased queen.
2:10 – 3:00 pm – Room 8
Dodie Stillman
Dodie Stillman began attending meetings of the Austin Area Beekeepers and Williamson County Area Beekeepers Associations in 2011. She was part of the inaugural class of the Texas Master Beekeepers Program, becoming one of the first seven Master Beekeepers in Texas. Dodie currently serves on the TMBP board. Over the past five years, she worked with the Texas Beekeepers Association board, including serving as president, and is now active on the Legislative Committee and co-chairs the Honey Show. Additionally, she teaches beekeeping classes at Texas Honey Bee Farm and The Bee Supply.
CONTACT: stillmandodie@gmail.com
Small Hive Beekeeping, The Art of Keeping Bees Alive
(Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced)
Come hear Stan describe his small hive beekeeping technique and how it helps him with spring re-queening and splits while providing back up extra reserves for nucs/queens.
10:10 – 11:00 pm – Room 2
Stan Gore
Stan Gore – Stan is a Disciple of Christ, disguised as a Beekeeper in Brenham, Texas. Currently, Stan works over 100 colonies in 4 different counties. Stan is the founder of Texas Friendly Beekeepers Facebook with over 12,000 private members. The page was started over 5 years ago to educate, encourage and equip beekeepers from all over the country, especially new beekeepers in a kind, friendly atmosphere. Stan is on the advisory-committee for the Central Texas Beekeepers and on the board of Hives For Heroes – an organization that connects Veterans and first responders to beekeeping providing purpose and healthy relationships. Stan is the inventor/developer of Stan’s Soft Sugar Bricks sold by The Bee Supply. 100% of Stan’s proceeds from the soft sugar bricks go to support Hives For Heroes.
CONTACT: stangore@me.com
Success At Your Farmers Market
(Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced)
Farmers’ markets are a great way to build your business. Markets allow you to get your farm’s name out to the community. They help you hone your marketing skills, and they are an instant focus group for your products. However, achieving success at farmers’ markets is much more than “piling it high and watching it fly”. Discover how SweetNes Honey Apiaries & Beetique has successfully utilized Farmers Markets to their advantage.
9:00 – 9:50 am – Room 5
Danessa Yaschuk
Danessa Yaschuk, known by many as ‘Nes’ is a sideliner and Master beekeeper. She is the owner of SweetNes Honey Apiaries & Beetique located in Needville, Texas. She and her husband Brent and two sons Benjamin & Nicholas manage approximately 400+ hives located throughout Fort Bend County. She served 5 years as the Vice President of the Fort Bend Beekeepers Association and is now on her second year as the President of the club. Danessa is on the board of Directors for the Real Texas Honey Program and on the Executive Committee for the Texas Beekeepers Association. Not only does she run bees, but she is also an authorized dealer for Mann Lake Bee Supply.
CONTACT: nes@sweetneshoney.com
Swarm Management
(Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced)
Since swarming comes naturally, learn ways to minimize your colonies’ instincts or even promote them and why to consider doing anything at all!
3:20 – 4:10 pm – Room 2
Becky Barajas
Becky Barajas has been an avid beekeeper for 12 years. As a passionate educator, she loves to learn and teach all about the amazing bug that she has dedicated her life to, the honey bee. Becky has volunteered her time through dozens of positions within the industry- from local bee clubs to national organizations. She has been the store manager of The Bee Supply in Round Rock since it’s opening in 2023, and loves to travel to 14 different bee clubs all over Central Texas. Her favorite thing about keeping bees is learning everything she can from the bees themselves and others.
CONTACT: becky@thebeesupply.com
Texas Apiary Laws
(Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced)
This presentation will provide a general introduction to the beekeeping laws of Texas as well as a brief overview of the Texas Apiary Inspection Service.
Time/Room
10:10 – 11:00 am – Room 7
Bill Baxter
Bill Baxter is a graduate of Texas A&M with a degree in Animal Science. Bill has had a 35-year career with the Texas Apiary Inspection Services. During the course of Bill’s distinguished career, he has seen the introduction into Texas of tracheal mites, varroa mites and Africanized honey bee.
The Business of Beekeeping
(Intermediate, Advanced)
There’s all sorts of ways to make money off your bees beyond honey, and in this class we will introduce you to a few avenues for revenue and give you some ideas of where to start.
10:10 – 11:00 am – Room 5
Tara Chapman
Tara Chapman is the founder and owner of Two Hives Honey, a full service honey and beekeeping company serving Austin for almost a decade. Tara started her career working in intelligence for the federal government, but a chance beekeeping class inspired her to quit her job and become a beekeeper. An accomplished speaker and educator, she is asked to speak and educate beekeepers across the United States each year and has taught thousands of beekeepers in her ten year tenure. She has been featured on the Today Show, VICE Media, Amtrak’s magazine The National, and others. Tara’s beekeeping book, “For the Bees: A Handbook for Happy Beekeeping” was published by the University of Texas Press in November 2024.
CONTACT: tara@twohiveshoney.com
The Bee Tree, Beekeeping Taught by Nature
(Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced)
Make your beekeeping easier and more successful by mimicking the seasonal patterns of the “bee tree” in your beehives. Randy shares the basis for the apiary management protocol that he uses and teaches to achieve natural sustainability in his apiaries.
12:10 – 1:00 pm – Room 3
Randy Oakley
Randy Oakleyhas been practicing the art of beekeeping for almost 50 years. Three generations of the Oakley Family currently help out in the family bee business producing local bees and beehive products as well as teaching others sustainable methods of beekeeping for Texas. They manage 400 colonies along the I35 corridor between Austin and Waco, Texas. More information about their beekeeper training and beehive products can be found at:
CONTACT: www.OakleyFamilyApiaries.com
The Bee Tree, Understanding Seasonal Patterns in Your Colony in your Colony through Inventory Inspections
(Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced)
The “inventory inspection” is a technique that beginning beekeepers can use to chart the natural seasonal growth patterns of their colonies. With this understanding newbies can begin to make informed apiary management decisions
1:10 – 2:00 pm – Room 3
Randy Oakley
Randy Oakley has been practicing the art of beekeeping for over 40 years. Three generations of the Oakley Family currently help in the family bee business producing local bees and beehive products as well as teaching others sustainable methods of beekeeping for central Texas. They manage 400 plus beehives along the I35 corridor between Austin and Waco. More information about their bees, beekeeper training and beehive products can be found at:
CONTACT: www.OakleyFamilyApiaries.com
Top 10 Mistakes Made by Brand New Beekeepers
(Beginner)
There’s a saying that 80% of beekeepers quit by year two. In this class we will explore the most common mistakes new beeks make in their first year of beekeeping and will help you wade through the overwhelming amount of information out there to help you focus on what’s most important as you’re just getting started.
Time/Room
1:10 – 2:00 pm – Room 2
Tara Chapman
Tara Chapman is the founder and owner of Two Hives Honey, a full service honey and beekeeping company serving Austin for almost a decade. Tara started her career working in intelligence for the federal government, but a chance beekeeping class inspired her to quit her job and become a beekeeper. An accomplished speaker and educator, she is asked to speak and educate beekeepers across the United States each year and has taught thousands of beekeepers in her ten-year tenure. She has been featured on the Today Show, VICE Media, Amtrak’s magazine The National, and others. Tara’s beekeeping book, “For the Bees: A Handbook for Happy Beekeeping” was published by the University of Texas Press in November 2024.
CONTACT: tara@twohiveshoney.com<
Top Bar Part 1 & 2
(Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced)
We will focus on Top Bar Hive beekeeping. Brandon will focus on the underlying theory of top bar hives and address the correct way to build / select a top bar hive. Brandon will also cover design flaws so that people don’t get stuck with an unworkable hive. He loves lots of Q&A in his talks.
8:00 – 9:50 am – Room 9
10:10 – 11:00 am – Room 9
Brandon Fehrenkamp
Brandon Fehrenkamp is the owner of Austin Bees, specializing in bee removals, top bar hives and consulting. Brandon began beekeeping on a whim in 2003 and started doing live removals in 2005. He has extensive experience safely removing hives in densely populated areas. He regularly speaks at schools and events to educate the public, is mentor to the UT Beekeeping Club, Beevo, and manages the glass observation hive at the Austin Nature & Science Center.
CONTACT: austinbeewranglers@gmail.com
Trouble Shooting a Failing Hive
(Intermediate, Advanced)
Beekeepers lose about 40% of their colonies, on average, each year. This class will help you look at these reasons, and help to identify what is going on and, if possible, how to correct the problem.
9:00 – 9:50 am – Room 2
Ashley Ralph
Ashley Ralph owns Prime Bees in College Station along with her husband, Justin, where she raises queens, hosts educational events, and manages bees throughout the surrounding areas. Her passion for bees grew rapidly after getting their first bee package and she enjoys learning and sharing about honeybees with anybody who will listen. Ashley is a Texas Master Beekeeper because she thought it would be an efficient and fun way to learn more about bees – she was right, it has led to an adventure in continuous learning.
CONTACT: ashley@primebees.com
Urban Beekeeping
(Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced)
This talk delves into urban beekeeping, exploring its benefits, challenges, and best practices. Topics include the role of urban landscapes in
providing diverse forage, the importance of hive placement for minimizing conflicts with neighbors, and strategies for maintaining healthy colonies in city environments.
2:10 – 3:00 pm – Room 9
Garett Slater
Dr. Garett Slater has 18 years of beekeeping experience. In 2022, he obtained his PhD from Purdue University. In 2024, he became an Assistant Professor at Texas A&M University as the state’s Apiculture Extension Specialist. Garett’s current research focuses on developing cheap genomic tools to help beekeepers select bees for natural defenses towards Varroa, pathogens, and other diseases. Additionally, Garett provides extension support to beekeepers across the state.
CONTACT: garett.slater@ag.tamu.edu
USDA Programs to Assist Beekeepers
(Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced)
The USDA Farm Service Agency will touch on multiple programs that they offer to assist honeybee growers. FSA’s Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program helps cover colony losses, honeybee hive losses, and honeybee feed losses in instances where these losses have been caused by an eligible natural disaster or, in the case of colony losses, because of Colony Collapse Disorder. The Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program provides financial assistance to producers of table and non-table honey produced commercially for human consumption. This session is meant to provide beekeepers information about how to sign up for these programs and what records are required to qualify for the programs.
Time/Room
10:10 – 11:00 am – Room 4
Nathan Lammert
Nathan Lammert is a Program Specialist with the Texas State Farm Service Agency. He has worked in the Texas State office for 4 years in a couple of different roles. Before his time with the State office, he was a County Executive Director in Denton County and later Coryell County. He served in those roles for a total of 14 years. He graduated from Texas A&M University in 2002 with a B.S. in Agricultural Development, and later, a M.S. in Educational Human Resource Development. He enjoys supporting his kids in any way possible, watching Aggie sports, hunting, fishing, tinkering with things to make them better, raising gamebirds, and hanging out with his family and friends. Also, God is good!
CONTACT: nathan.lammert@usda.gov
Vegetable Gardening for Beekeepers
(Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced)
We all know that bees & gardens go hand-in-hand but balancing the need for having a productive garden (using fertilizers and pesticides) is not usually compatible with maintaining healthy bees. This class talks about how to achieve the balance between the two objectives.
Time/Room
3:20 – 4:10 pm – Room 8
Michael Vidrine
Michael Vidrine was born and raised on the Texas Gulf coast, but I’ve lived in several different locations and climates as my company moved me around. We have always had orchards and gardens wherever we have lived from Northern Brazil to the Upper Midwest and 3 Locations in Texas. Currently we have a small acreage farm in Brazos county with 200 fruit trees, 100’s of grapes and berries, 50+ pecan trees and a large vegetable garden. I’ve been a beekeeper for 13 years with 10 colonies.
CONTACT: michael.vidrine@gmail.com
The Bee Tree – The Vertical Bee Hive Split
(Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced)
Randy will demonstrate how to make and use a vertical beehive split to increase colony numbers, annual requeen each colony, improve winter survivability requeen africanized colonies, control Varroa mites, increase honey production and manage swarming.
3:20 – 4:10 pm – Room 3
Randy Oakley
Randy Oakley has been practicing the art of beekeeping for almost 50
years. Three generations of the Oakley Family currently help out in the family bee business producing local bees and beehive products as well as teaching others sustainable methods of beekeeping for Texas. They manage 400 colonies along the I35 corridor between Austin and Waco, Texas. More information about their beekeeper training and beehive products can be found at:
CONTACT: www.OakleyFamilyApiaries.com
What to Know Before Getting Started
(Beginner)
This talk is tailored specifically to backyard beekeepers who want to avoid common beginner pitfalls. It will list important recommendations on what is needed to become a successful beekeeper, and how to select bees and hives depending on your goals, philosophy, budget, and physical abilities. We’ll discuss the main hive types and their pros and cons, and what kind of gear and tools you will need (or won’t need). The presentation will also share important resources and outline the critical first steps to take on your beekeeping journey.
1:10 – 2:00 pm – Room 7
Nathalie B.
Nathalie B. is a certified Master Beekeeper with 14 years’ experience in a wide variety of hives. A trilingual French transplant and a successful
entrepreneur, she decided to start her own beekeeping operation to make her true passion her business, managing 400 colonies across 45 out yards. She now owns Bee Mindful, a successful beekeeping school and farm where she offers beekeeping apprenticeships, workshops and classes in sustainable and natural beekeeping, professional AG exemption services, as well as affordable top-bar hives and treatment-free bees.
Nathalie is passionate about community outreach and volunteering and has worked tirelessly to create free and inclusive training programs and teaching apiaries for refugees in Congo, Nigeria, and Texas that teach beekeeping as a source of dignified and secure income for all.
CONTACT: www.Bee-Mindful.com
Where’s the Queen?
(Beginner, Intermediate, Advance)
If you’ve ever thought locating your queen felt like an impossible game of ‘Where’s Waldo?’ then this is the class for you! We’ll be exploring all things queen-finding and talking about the hunt for a queen in nucs, hives, swarms, and removals, covering a variety of helpful tips and tricks along the way. Learn how to think like a worker bee and how understanding honeybee biology will help you find your queen!
Time/Room
2:10 – 3:00 pm – Room 10
Ryan Giesecke
Ryan Giesecke owns and operates G-Bar Naturals, an urban homestead project located in East Dallas. From there he periodically offers homegrown products and learning opportunities, as well as performing bee-friendly removals of honeybees and bumble bees as “Honeybee Relocation Services”. Ryan loves to talk bees and has done so all across the state. He is president of Texas Association of Professional Bee Removers, past president of Trinity Valley Beekeepers Association in Dallas, past president of Metro Beekeepers Association in Fort Worth, and a Texas Master Beekeeper.
CONTACT: ryangiesecke@gmail.com
Zen & the Art of Bee Removals
(Intermediate, Advance)
Deciding & The Art of Bee Removals – Bee removal work is a fast track to advanced beekeeping. Charlie will share his sometimes-painful and often-ridiculous experiences as a bee removal pro. Using videos from live removals, he’ll go through some basic methods and approaches to capturing feral bees. .
8:00 – 8:50 am – Room 3
12:10 – 1:00 pm – Room 5
Charlie Agar
Charlie Agar and his wife Kaye run Charlie Bee Company, a bee school and agritourism site in Seguin offering classes, tours and selling bees and equipment. Charlie and his team manage over 300 ag lease colonies, do live bee removals and relocations all across Central Texas. His work is the subject of the Charlie Bee Company reality series on PBS – stay tuned for Season 2 announcements coming soon!
CONTACT: info@charliebee.com
Sign up for our Monthly Newsletter
By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Central Texas Beekeepers Association, P. O. Box 1875, Brenham, TX, 77834. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact