Michigan Beekeepers Association 2024 Fall Conference

Ana Heck<heckanar@msu.edu>, Michigan State University Extension -

The fall beekeeping conference will be held in Benzie County and include a honey show, three tracks of presentations on pollinator plants, alternative hive styles, honey bee colony health and more!

Photo taken from the air of St. Ambrose Cellars showing multiple buildings, people, and trees in autumn.
St. Ambrose Cellars will host pre-conference activities, including a tour, mead tasting and pizza dinner social. Photo by St. Ambrose Cellars.

The Michigan Beekeepers Association's Fall Conference will be held Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, at Benzie Central High School, 9222 Homestead Rd, Benzonia, MI 49616. Online registration and additional conference information is available through Michigan Beekeepers Association's website.

Melanie Kirby, extension educator at the American Indian Institute of Arts, will deliver a keynote presentation on Connecting the Crowns: Building Comb Between the Field and the Lab. Additional conference speakers include Jean Baker, Mike Connor, Bill Mauer, Meghan Milbrath, PhD, John Stephens, Nate Walton, PhD, Richard Wieske and others. Read the 2024 Fall Conference speaker bios and presentation descriptions and view the 2024 Fall Conference agenda to learn more about the event.

An add-on lunch option is available for the day of the conference for those who register by Oct. 12.

2024 Fall Conference Honey Show

All beekeepers who attend the conference are invited to enter the 2024 Fall Conference Honey Show. Please review the list of honey show categories and rules. Beekeepers can learn tips and tricks for preparing honey show entries through several videos on honey show preparation.

Pre-conference activities

Webinar

Wednesday, October 2 at 7 p.m. 

Melanie Kirby, the 2024 Fall Conference keynote speaker, will present on “The Importance of Place, Power, and Purpose in Pollinator Stewardship” at a pre-conference webinar on Wednesday, Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. Eastern. This presentation will weave intercultural perspectives and practices and how they shape our stewardship styles, including indigenous research methodologies and regenerative agriculture principles. More information about the webinar and registration.

Michigan State University Extension plans to post the webinar recording to the pollinators and pollination video webpage within one week of the presentation.

Tour of Sleeping Bear Farms Honey House and St. Ambrose Cellars Meadery

Friday, October 18 at 2 p.m.

Kirk and Sharon Jones will host a tour of Sleeping Bear Farms Honey House and St. Ambrose Cellars Meadery on Friday, Oct. 18 from 2-3:30 p.m. The tour is free, but space is limited and pre-registration required. Registrants should meet at St. Ambrose Cellars, 841 S Pioneer Rd, Beulah, MI 49617. Register for the free tour of Sleeping Bear Farms Honey House and St. Ambrose Cellars Meadery.

Mead Tasting at St. Ambrose Cellars

Friday, October 18 at 3:45 p.m.

Mead tasting at St. Ambrose Cellars will be held on Friday, October 18 at 3:45 p.m. The cost is $10 per person to be paid for at the time of the event. No pre-registration required.

Pizza Dinner Social at St. Ambrose Cellars

Friday, October 18 at 5 p.m.

A pizza dinner social will be held at St. Ambrose Cellars on Friday, Oct. 18 at 5 p.m. Enjoy a delicious wood-fired pizza and salad bar while socializing with fellow beekeepers and conference speakers. The cost is $15 per person and pre-registration is required. Register for the pizza dinner social.

Vendors

There is ample space for vendors in Benzie Central High School at the 2024 Fall Conference. Please contact Keith Lazar at 248-361-1710 or keithmlazar@hotmail.com to inquire and sign up. The cost per table is $30.

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