Wilson County Beekeepers

Meeting Minutes – Monday, 3 March 2025

Wilson County Beekeepers Vice President Leonard Walker called the March 3, 2025 meeting to order with 69 members and guests in attendance.  Approval of the February 3 meeting was made.    Checkbook balance is $          , which includes the $547.00 for the Honey Show at the Wilson County Fair.  There is still a $200.00 sponsorship from Honeybee TN to be included, which will pay all premiums available plus the judge’s fee.  Financial report is at Petra’s table for viewing.

Old Business Discussed:

• What do you get when you cross a doorbell with a bee? A Hum-dinger
• Still accepting bids for the extracting equipment. We will take bids until the June picnic, so if anyone is interested, check it out by the window.
• Still have a few seats available for the inspector Class on March 17-18 with Mike Studer. This is for anyone wanting to do hive inspections or inspectors that need a refresher.  There are a total of 25 seats available and you need to have a minimum of five years’ beekeeping experience and have gone through the UT Master Beekeepers Class (or equivalent).  Sign up with Petra
• If you haven’t turned in your hive count, please let Petra know.
• The Refresher Course on Saturday, March 1 had eighteen attendees and Allen Ferguson did a fantastic job presenting the course.

   New Business Discussed:

• Petra is looking for program/speaker ideas for 2026.
• It’s time to update the Swarm List…please make changes accordingly.
• The TBA Spring Board Meeting is scheduled for Saturday, march 29 at 1:00 pm at Cumberland University. All TBA members are welcome to attend (either in person or via Zoom), but only the registered delegates can vote.
• Kent Williams will be doing a Queen Rearing class on Saturday, May 3 at Sterling apiary starting at 10:00 am. This class is free to WCBA members and a $20.00 charge for non-members.  Class size is 40, so if you are interested, get your name on the list.

Leonard’s Monthly To Do’s:

• Check for brood. Reverse the boxes if all of the brood is in the top box.  It may be a little early; you don’t want to separate the brood from the stores.
• Check your hives for food stores, and feed if you need. The hive is raising brood and will use it at a faster rate.
• It is a good time to get a mite treatment done before adding honey supers.

    What’s blooming that the bees are working:

• Black Willow
• Dandelion
• Elm
• Hazelnut
• Hellebores (Lenten Rose)
• Henbit
• magnolia
• Mahonia
• Maple
• Pussy Willow

Book Report:  Duane Ackley reported on the new Bee Propolis book.

Program:  Jeff Crutchfield had a very informative program on Why Bees Swarm and How to Trap Them.

Announcements:

• March 17-18—Inspector Class with Mike Studer
• March 29—TBA Spring Board Meeting
• April 7—Al Taylor—Honey Comb and Comb Interaction

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The evening’s door prizes were handed out by Leonard with the help from Jennifer Ferguson

Door Prizes:

• Blue Sky t-shirt—Andrew Poteete
• Bee Gloves—Bruce LaVergne
• Bee Magnet—Karen Cuen
• WCBA Hat—Freddie Stroupe
• J Hook Hive Tool—Gloria Cannon
• Bee Brush—Steve Brewer
• Varroa Check—Sterling Earhart
• $25.00 Gift Certificate from Lappe Bee Supply—Ronnie Woodard
• Hive Tool—Shelley Flint
• Hive Plaque (donated by Joan Giltner)—John Kaul

The meeting adjourned around 8:09 for refreshments & fellowship.

The Club’s current checkbook balance is $

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Respectfully submitted:  Petra Mitchell, Secretary/Treasurer
Wilson County Beekeepers Association
March 5, 2025

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