Wilson County Beekeepers

Wilson County Beekeepers President Leonard Walker called the September 8, 2025 meeting to order with 89 members and guests in attendance. Approval of the July 28 meeting was made. Checkbook balance is $xxxx which includes proceeds from the Fair. Financial report is at Petra’s table for viewing. Current paid membership stands at 214 paid members.

Old Business Discussed:

Newbees… remember to contact your mentors should you have a need; it’s not their responsibility to check on you…they have their own bees.

Petra recapped the Fair:

• This year’s Fair attendance was 795,523 which is 65,902 less than last year.
• The Honey Show had 26 categories with 28 entrants and 63 entries. The list of winners was in the last newsletter and a copy at the table.
• There was a total of $647 in premiums available with $354 awarded.
• There was a total of 630 tickets for the raffle basket which was won by LaShondra Wallace from Nashville.
• We collected $3,011.50 from the sale of honey, wax and raffle tickets. After paying for the honey we purchased and the bears and lids, our net income came to $1,787.16.
• I want to thank those that donated honey, wax and raffle basket items. Thank you to Kenny Birdwell, Jessica Dodds-Davis, and Allen Ferguson for bringing in observation hives. Thanks to those that spent time sitting at the booth. Thanks to everyone that brought in entries for the Honey Show and thank you to Leonard Walker and Pat Gooch for providing frames for the extracting demonstrations. A special thanks to Allen and Jennifer Ferguson who did the extracting demonstrations. Without all of you, the Honey Show would not have been the success it was!!!
• I was informed at the end of the air that the Honey Show will no longer be included in the Best of Tennessee. This has NO effect on the county or state Honey Shows.

New Business Discussed:

• Short Course is scheduled for October 21-23 with the start time being 6:00 pm. If you are planning on attending (even if it is for a refresher) please let Petra know, as she needs a headcount for dinner
• We have new books going to the public libraries…”What Bees See”. The Watertown library already has their copy. David Stoiko agreed to deliver the copy to Mt. Juliet, and Bryan Leu will be delivering the Lebanon copy.
• The new owners of Maple Bend Bee Supply were in house to introduce themselves, talk about their vision for the store, and answer any questions. Their main location will be at 76333 Manchester Highway in Murfreesboro. There will be a satellite store in Lebanon by appointment only.

Allen’s Monthly To Do’s:

• Do a general hive inspection
• Combine your weak hives
• Add entrance reducers
• Continue to keep out a good water source
• Don’t panic if your hive starts to smell like dirty socks, it’s just golden rod pollen

What’s blooming that the bees are working:

• Asters
• Boneset
• Bosc Elm
• Chinese Sumac
• Crepe Myrtle
• Crownbeard
• Cup Plant
• Garlic Chives
• Golden Rod
• Horseweed
• Mexican Bamboo
• Mints
• Partridge pea
• Ragweed
• Sedum
• Seven Sons
• Smartweed
• Virginia Copperleaf
• Vitex
• Yellowstem

Book Report:

Pat Gooch is presently reading 50 Years Among the Bees. He said it was a fabulous book and will finish it soon and then repeat the read.

Program:

Kent Williams had a very informative presentation on Feeding Bees: Who, What, Where, When Why, and How.

Announcements:

• October 13—Lucas Holman—Landscaping for Pollinator’s Health — NOTE THE DATE CHANGE — meeting the second Monday due to building conflict
  
• Next year’s Kent Williams Bee School scheduled for April 23, 24, and 25
  
• Burlap Bags and Zucchini were available for anyone interested

The evening’s door prizes were handed out by Leonard with the help from Jennifer Ferguson. Winners were able to pick their prize.

Door Prizes:

• 6-month ABJ subscription—Rob Hopper
• Bee bird house—Petra Mitchell
• Hive Tool—Chuck Benson
• Starbucks Coffee—Andrew Poteete
• Frame Grip—Steve Brewer
• Bee Shirt—Tricia Davis
• Queen Marking Cage—Karla Clark
• Beetle traps made by Kenny Birdwell—Norma Jean Stroupe

The meeting adjourned around 8:36 for refreshments & fellowship.

The Club’s current checkbook balance is $___________.

Respectfully submitted: Petra Mitchell, Secretary/Treasurer
Wilson County Beekeepers Association
September 9, 2025

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