The Palm Beach County Beekeepers Association (PBCBA) recently announced its first South Florida Honey Bee Expo, which will take place Friday, Sept. 30 through Saturday, Oct. 1. This two-day event is designed for beekeepers at all levels, from beginners to commercial apiarists. It will feature nationally known speakers, as well as vendors selling bee-related products. The expo will be held at the Loxahatchee Groves campus of Palm Beach State College, located at 15845 Southern Blvd.
Anticipated presenters at the South Florida Honey Bee Expo include David Hackenberg, Hackenberg Apiaries; Eli Mendes, Tropic Honey Bee Farm; Sam Comfort, Anarchy Apiaries; Brandon Stanford, FDACS Chief Apiary Inspector; and Jennifer Hagan, University of Florida.
In addition to lectures, instructors will lead workshops including a mead-making demonstration with a chance to win the final product. The expo will also feature a Welsh honey judging competition with ribbons and certificates awarded in multiple categories. Additionally, an educational apiary will be set up on the event grounds, allowing attendees to get “hands-on” with a hive. An optional dinner with a keynote speaker presentation will be held at the same location the evening before, and a sponsored breakfast for all commercial beekeepers attending the conference will take place Saturday morning.
“It has been several years since the last bee conference came to South Florida,” said PBCBA President Eric Baxter, owner of Baxter’s Bees Honey & More. “October’s event will give a necessary boost to the local beekeeping community in terms of education and networking.”
PBCBA Outreach Director and Vice President Kevin Easton agreed. “I am glad PBC Beekeepers is organizing this Honey Bee Expo,” he said. “The pandemic really impacted our ability and mission to help educate beekeepers and the public about the importance of honey bees to the environment and our society.”
Tickets to the South Florida Honey Bee Expo are on sale now. Advance registration is $99 (includes breakfast snack and casual lunch) through Sept. 15, after which the regular rate of $125 applies. Cut-off for online registration is Sept. 25, though a limited number of in-person registrations of $150 (cash or credit card only) will be accepted at the door.
Tickets for the Friday evening meet-and-greet dinner are $35 and must be purchased in advance at the time of online reservation.
For more information, and a full list of lecturers, visit www.honeybeeexpo.org or register at https://honeybeeexpo.eventbrite.com.
Organizations wishing to sponsor this event are encouraged to e-mail info@honeybeeexpo.org or call (561) 206-4483.
The Palm Beach County Beekeepers Association is a not-for profit organization serving Palm Beach County since 1974. With an emphasis on education and outreach, the group is committed to providing the best information possible concerning honey bees and their environmental impact to beekeepers as well as the general public. Interested individuals are welcome to attend the PBCBA’s meetings the first Friday of each month. For more info., visit www.palmbeachbeekeepers.org.
