2020 Fall Conference & Workshop

We understand many of you have been unable to attend any beekeeping events since the Indiana Bee School and the subsequent shutdown of the states due to COVID-19. 

Indiana is now allowing gatherings of up to 250 people and we are happy to continue with our plans to hold our Fall Conference and Workshops. 

However, here are some changes that we are implementing to help keep our attendees safe:

1. Masks will be mandatory.  Each attendee will be given a cloth mask.
2. Lunch will still be included; however, it will be served as a ‘No Touch” buffet with servers.
3. Our raffle and auction items will be placed on tables and we ask that you look with your eyes not your hands.
4. There will be a plethora of hand sanitizers for your use.
5. Follow guidelines by Horizon Convention Center and Delaware County Health Department.

We have our guest speakers lined up and some of our break out sessions as well.  Continue to watch this page for updates and if we have to cancel, all pre-paid amounts will be refunded.

To see the full agenda, click here.

Guest Speaker

Jay Evans
Research Leader

USDA-ARS Bee Research Lab

 Dr. Jay Evans is the Research Leader for the USDA-ARS Bee Research Lab in Beltsville, Maryland

Jay is originally from Seattle in Washington State.  After graduating from Princeton, Jay spent the next ten years working on his PhD and subsequently as a post-doc. He received his PhD from the University of Utah and his research was on a particular ant, Myrmica tahoensis.  And while it’s not talked about much today, Jay found its biology of raising multiple queens fascinating.  This does happen in certain species of ants.

After earning his doctorate, Jay criss-crossed the US following different projects not related to honey bees.  He eventually ended up at the University of Arizona where he worked on a project that focused on the production of honey bee queens.   Dr. Evans was then hired at the Beltsville Bee Lab where he focuses on bee health.

Jay enjoys running, lives on a “hobby farm” with sheep and goats, chickens, beehives and his three teenagers. He admits they all eat a lot but are endlessly entertaining.

Young Beekeeper Award

The Awards for the Young Beekeeper Program will be given at the Fall Conference.  For rules and an application, see our Young Beekeeper Program page under Programs. 

Workshops

Will post more information about 2020 in a few months.

Chemical Free Beekeeping by Perry and Beverly Riley

Preparing for Spring by Kathleen Prough

Honey Judging

Join us at the 2020 TBoI Fall Conference and Workshops.



2020 Location Horizon Convention Center

 Click here for directions

One King Bed Room        $99.00
One King Bed Suite         $99.00
Two Queen Bed Room     $99.00

You may call the hotel directly at: 765-381-8086 or use the link here to registration online: Click here to book a room online.

Registration Information

The cost is $40 for adult members, $50 for non-members and $25 for children 15 years old and younger, both member and non-member.

You may print the registration form and mail it in.  To print the mail in form, click here.

To use the online system for registration, click here.

Guest Speaker

Kent Williams
Certified Master Beekeeper

Kent Williams is an EAS Certified Master Beekeeper, the first Master Beekeeper in Kentucky.

He has been keeping bees for over 30 years and maintains around 800 hives in western Kentucky.  Kent rents bees for pollination, produces honey, raises several thousand queens, and produces nucleus colonies for local beekeepers. A past EAS President, Kent is also past president of the Kentucky State Beekeepers Association and president of the Lake Barkley Beekeepers.

Kent Williams also developed a KW hive tool.  The tool allows you to have both a J-Hook and a Kelley Hive tool in one.

Mr Williams has presented numerous talks on various honey bee topics for EAS, HAS, Kentucky and Indiana state conferences.  These topics have included Queen Rearing, Making Nucs, Calendar for a Beekeeper, Breaking Your Chemical Dependency and Raising Your Own Queens. Kent has been teaching a Kent Williams Bee School in Kentucky for several years and teaches a queen rearing course at the annual Bee Intensive event in Bedford, Indiana.

Honey Queen and Princess

Each year at our Fall Conference, we select our next years Indiana Honey Queen and Princess.  If you are 18, on or before January 1st, and no older than 24 on or before January 1st, 2021 and are interested in competing for one of these positions, see our Indiana Honey Queen and Princess page under Programs.

FALL CONFERENCE VENDORS

If you wish to be a vendor at the Fall Conference, send an email to beekeepers.indiana@yahoo.com  Subject: Vendor Fall Conference.

2020 HONEY SHOW

Click here for rules and entry form.  If you wish to enter the Honey Show, you need to be registered for the conference and present to win.  New categories included this year, so be sure to view the latest rules and entry form.