WCBA Meeting & Event Schedule
We meet monthly (except for August) at 7:00 PM in the Ward Agriculture Center on the Wilson County Fairgrounds in Lebanon, Tennessee. NOTE: If the front gates are locked on the Ag Center, use the Tennessee Boulevard (next light) exit.
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2025 WCBA Programing Schedule
October 13 —Lucas Holman—Landscaping for Pollinator’s Health (emphasis on honeybees)
October 21-23 —Short Course
November 10 —Combining Hives
December 1 — Christmas Dinner
Regular monthly meetings & courses (visitors welcome)
Dinners / Events for Paid members only
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2025 (expired)
January 6 —Sterling Earhart—Resource Hive
February 3 — Clarence Collison—The Importance of Drones
March 1 —Refresher Course
March 3 — Jeff Crutchfield—Why Bees Swarm and how to Trap Them
March 17-18 —Inspector Class—Mike Studer
April 7 —Al Taylor—Honey Comb and Comb Interaction
May 5 —Mike Studer—Detecting AFB & EFB and all about Mites
May 10 —Queen Rearing with Kent Williams
May 17 (24) —Field Day
June 7 —Picnic
July 7 —John Benham—Are your bees ready for Winter?
July 28 — Melissa Ross—Pointers on Entering Blue Ribbon Winners
September 8 —Kent Williams—Feeding Bees: Who, what, where, when, why, and how.
2024 (expired)
January 8 — Leonard Walker—Double Screen Beekeeping
February 5 — Clarence Collison—Swarm Mgmt.–Are you Winning the Battle?
February 24 — Refresher Course
March 4 — Shannon Trimboli—Nectar Flows that Honeybees Use
April 1 — John Benham—A Bee’s Eye View of Nucs and How they Adapt
May 6 — Dale McCleskey—Managing the Sex Lives of Honeybees
May 18 (alternate May 25) — Field DayJune 10 — Picnic
July 1 — Open Forum—Beekeeper Tips and Gadgets
July 29 — Jim Garrison—Fall Management
September 9 — Kent Williams—Pest Management
September 30 — Carey Mitchell—Combining Hives
October 22-24 — Short Course
November 4 — Sue Dickhaus—Propolis
December 2 — Christmas Dinner
2023 (expired)
January 2 — David Hughes—Bee Trees and ShrubsFebruary 6 — Clarence Collison—Investigating Bee Hive IssuesFebruary 25 — Refresher CourseMarch 6 — Mike Studer—Bee Pests and DiseasesMarch 7 & 8 — Inspector ClassApril 3 — Honeytree Meadery—MeadMay 1 — Carey Mitchell—Extracting HoneyMay 6 (13) — Kent Williams—Queen Rearing ClassMay 27 — Field DayJune 5 — Picnic (Members & family)July 3 — John Benham—How Summer Beekeeping Can Determine Winter SurvivalJuly 24 — Al Taylor—Is My Queen Ready for WinterSeptember 11 — Kent Williams—Wintertime PreparationsOctober 2 — Jay Williams—Become a Better Bee DetectiveOctober 23-25 — Beekeeping Short CourseNovember 6 — Susan Welchance—Working with BeeswaxDecember 4 — Christmas Dinner
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2022
January 10 — Dale McCleskey — Packages & NucsFebruary 7 — Clarence Collison — Spring ManagementFebruary 19 — Refresher Course — 9 AM to Noonish in the Ward Ag Ctr. School HouseMarch 7 — Shannon Trimboli — Planting for HoneybeesApril 4 — John Ratcliffe — Cut outsMay 2 — Lynda Rizzardi — Getting Ready for the FairJune 6 — Picnic (Members & family)July 11 — John Benham — The Threshold to Healthy Spring BeesJuly 25 — Fall Management — Kent WilliamsSeptember 12 — Trevor Qualls — How, When, & Why To Feed your BeesOctober 3 — Barry Richards — Observation HivesOctober 24-26 — Short CourseNovember 7 — What Have You Learned? / Open Q & ADecember 5 — Christmas Dinner
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2021
January 4 — Sterling Earhart — Double Nuc — Two Queen HivesFebruary 1 — Leonard Walker — Double ScreensFebruary 27 — Refresher CourseMarch 1 — Dale McCleskey — Types of HivesApril 5 — Clarence Collison — The Importance of Bee NutritionMay 3 — Kent Williams — The Importance of a Good QueenJune 7 — Christy Luna from the ASCS — Grants for Beekeepers.July 5 — Extracting Honey — Carey MitchellJuly 26 — Fair Review — Melissa RossSeptember 13 — Open Forum — What Have you Learned?October 4 — Kamon Reynolds — Varroa TreatmentsNovember 1 — Sue Dickhaus — LotionsNovember 2-4 — Short CourseDecember 13 — Christmas Dinner
2020
January 6 — Honeybee Biology — Trevor QuallsFebruary 3 — Woodworking Applications — Gene ArmstrongFebruary 22 — Refresher CourseMarch 2 — Spring Preparation — Clarence CollisonApril 6 — CANCELLED – NO MEETING due to Coronavirus / COVID-19May 4 — CANCELLED – NO MEETING due to Coronavirus / COVID-19June 1 — David Hughes f/ Rock Bridge Trees – Bee Trees – NO PICNICJuly 6 — Extracting Honey — Carey MitchellJuly 27 — Propolis — Karin Gray, President of the Cookeville clubSeptember 14 — Double Hive Honey Production – Sterling EarhartOctober 5 — Managing the Sex Lives of Honeybees — Dale McCleskeyOctober 27-29 — Short Course — CANCELED due to COVID-19November 2 — Making Salve — Sue DickhausDecember 7 — Which Bee is Right for Me — Al Taylor
2019
January 7 — Honeybee Biology — Carey MitchellFebruary 4 — Use of a Double Screen/Making Splits — Joel WhiteFebruary 23 — Refresher CourseMarch 4 — Honeybee Nutrition — Clarence CollisonApril 1 — Nucs — Sterling Earhart substitute presenter – Charlie Parton — Pest Management — Kent Williams
May 6June 3 — WCBA Spring PicnicJuly 1 — Marketing and Packaging Honey — Jay WilliamsJuly 29 — Fair Review — Carey MitchellSeptember 9 — Fall/Winter Management — Carey MitchellOctober 7 — Wax — Susan WelchanceOctober 22-24 — 3-Day Beginner Beekeeping Short CourseNovember 4 — Stings — Peggy ScholesDecember 2 — WCBA Christmas Dinner
2018
January 8 — Barry Richards — Observation HivesFebruary 5 — Kent Williams — Spring Build upFebruary 24 — Refresher CourseMarch 5 — Clarence Collison — Laying WorkersApril 2 — Sterling Earhart — Making a New QueenMay 7 — Jay Williams — Bee RemovalJune 4 — WCBA Spring PicnicJuly 2 — Fair ReviewJuly 30 — Howard Kerr — Summer and Fall Build upAugust 17-25 — Wilson County FairSeptember 10 — Jim Garrison — Fall & Winter Management in the Education BuildingOctober 1— Dale McCleskey — Different Types of HivesOctober 23-25 — 3-Day Beginner Beekeeping Short CourseNovember 5 — Trevor Qualls — Emergency Feeding & Spring ReadinessDecember 3 — WCBA Christmas Dinner
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2017
January 2 – Susan Welchance – Cleaning Wax and Molding CandlesFebruary 6 – Jay Williams — Solitary BeesFebruary 25 – Refresher CourseMarch 6 – Charlie Parton — Making and Using NucsApril 10 – Clarence Collison — Swarm PreventionMay 1 – Kent Williams — Things that can cause summer losses & what to doMay 20 – WCBA Field Day – 10:00 AM in Lebanon & Mount JulietJune 5 – WCBA PicnicJuly 3 – Lynda Rizzardi — Getting Ready for the FairJuly 31 – Fair ReviewSeptember 11 – Trevor Qualls — Alternative to Chemicals / Fall & Winter MgmtOctober 2 – Carey Mitchell — Combining HivesOctober 31 – November 2 – 3-Day Short CourseNovember 6 – Q&A w/ Carey MitchellDecember 4 – Christmas Dinner
2016
January 4 – Jay Williams – Cut CombFebruary 1 – Trevor Qualls – Drones: The Forgotten Part of Queen Rearing & Evaluating for SplitsFebruary 20 – WCBA Refresher CourseMarch 7 – Kent Williams – The Importance of a Good QueenApril 11 – Clarence Collison – Honeybee BiologyMay 2 – Joel Hausser – Bee PlantsMay 23 – Extracting WorkshopJune 6 – WCBA PicnicJune 20 – CANCELED DUE TO RODEO – NO MEETING – Jeff Herel – Mite treatmentJuly 11 – Fair ReviewAugust 19-27 – Wilson County FairSeptember 12 – Carey Mitchell – Fall and Winter ManagementOctober 3 – David & Deannie Hughes – Rock Bridge Trees – Bee TreesOctober 18-20 – 3-Day Beginner Short CourseNovember 7 – Mentor Moments: Interesting but non-essential bee factsDecember 5 – WCBA Christmas Dinner
2015
January 5 — Spring Feeding w/ Carey MitchellFebruary 2 — Splitting & Combining Hives w/ Jay WilliamsMarch 2 — Spring & Summer Hive Preparation — Kent WilliamsMarch 9 — Beginning Beekeepers WorkshopApril 13 — The Importance of Bee Nutrition — Clarence CollisonMay 4 — Nucleus hives – making, using, selling — David LaFerneyJune 1 — WCBA PicnicJune 15 — Honey Extracting WorkshopJuly 6 — Bee Pests – Small Hive Beetle and Varroa Mites — John PaceJuly 20 — Fair ReviewSeptember 14 — Fall & Winter Management — Carey MitchellOctober 5 — Arlis Swafford — Emergency FeedingOctober 27-29 — 3-Day Beekeeping Short CourseNovember 2 — Natural Beekeeping — Trevor QuallsDecember 14 — Christmas Dinner
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2014
January 13 — Natural Beekeeping — Trevor QuallsFebruary 3 — Raising Queens — Mike HaneyFebruary 8 — Beginning Beekeepers WorkshopMarch 24 — Preparing Hives for Maximum Honey Production — Clarence CollisonApril 14 — Nucs — Charlie PartonMay 19 — Observation Hives — Barry RichardsJune 2 — PicnicJuly 7 — Fair Prep and Catalog Review — Melissa RossJuly 28 — Working with Wax – Cleaning/Molding/Candle Making — Jim GarrisonSeptember 8 — Fall & Winter Management — Kent WilliamsOctober 6 — Pollinator Plants — David & Deanna HughesNovember 3 — Making Mead — Paulette Scott & Arlis SwaffordDecember 1 – Christmas Dinner
2013
January 7 — Bee Biology 101 — Clarence CollisonJanuary 22-24 — Beekeeping Short CourseFebruary 4 — Homemade queens, requeening, splits — Dann PurvisMarch 4 — Natural Beekeeping — Trevor QuallsMarch 16 — Beginner’s Workshop April 8 — Swarm Prevention and control — Kent WilliamsMay 6 — Nectar & Pollen Plants — Jim GarrisonMay 18 — Field Day — date and locations to be announced June 3 — Club PicnicJune 17 — Extracting WorkshopJuly 1 — Fair Prep WorkshopJuly 29 — Marketing Honey & Photography — Jay Williams August 16-24 — Wilson County FairSeptember 9 — Fall & Winter Management — Mike StuderSeptember 27-28 — TBA Conference – Hyder-Burks Pavilion, Cookeville, TNOctober 7 — Making Lotions & Salves — Sue DickhausOctober 15-17 — Short CourseNovember 4 — Elections / Trapping & Selling Pollen — Harris OverholtDecember 2 — Christmas Dinner
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2012
January 2 — Splitting Hives: Pros and Cons of Spring & Fall Splits – Dan PurvisJanuary 17, 18, 19 — Beekeeping Instructional Short Course – $25/person or $45/couple — contact Petra Mitchell petrabee@hotmail.com to registerFebruary 6 — Cell Punch Method of Queen Rearing – Leonard WalkerFebruary 20 — Building & Maintaining Bee Equipment WorkshopMarch 5 — Native Plants and Wildflowers – Elizabeth ForbesApril 2 — Honey Basics: From the Flower to the Jar – Clarence CollisonMay 7 — Observation Hives with Barry RichardsMay 19 — Field Day (alternate date 5/26 – location TBA)June 4 — Club Picnic (Members only)June 25 — Honey Extracting WorkshopJuly 2 — Top Bar Hives – Steve BucknerJuly 23 — Wilson County Fair ReviewAug 17-25 — Wilson County FairSeptember 10 — Fall and Winter Management – Allen PersingerSeptember 28-29 — TBA Fall Conference (see tnbeekeepers.org for details) October 1 — Combining Hives – Carey MitchellNovember 5 — Elections and Presentation TBDDecember 3 — Christmas Dinner (Members Only)
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2011
January 3 —February 7 — Natural Beekeeping – John Seaborn & Trevor QuallsMarch 7 — 2 Methods of Raising Queens – Ed HolcombeApril 4 — The Pollination Program – Christy Luna April 30 — Field Day (914 Maple Hill Road, Lebanon) May 2 — Swarm Prevention/Making Splits – Carey Mitchell June 6 — Club Picnic (Members only)June 27 — Cleaning Wax and Molding Candles – Jim Garrison July 11 — Honey Extracting Workshop July 25 — Fair Catalog ReviewNo August Meeting August 12-20 — Wilson County Fair / Honey Show September 12 — Fall & Winter Management – Mike Studer October 10 — Presenting a Program – Fred Dawson November 7 — Elections and Open Forum Discussion December 5 — Christmas Dinner (Members Only)
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Wilson County Beekeepers 
Are you still planning a one day class on beekeeping in January? I definitely want to attend, but haven’t seen anything about signing up.
Thanks
Leesa, there will be a three-day short course conducted January 17-19 at the Ward Ag. Center in Lebanon. The cost is $25 per individual or $45 per couple, and registration is required. More details will be posted in December. Contact Petra Mitchell at petrabee@hotmail.com to register.
Can you suggest a resource or farm where I can purchase honey from Wilson County for control of allergy symptoms?
Lisa,
I do have local honey for sale and I will be in Lebanon on Wednesday and can bring it then. Or, there is a Handmade Parade at the Ag Center on Friday , November 4 from 10-7 which you might enjoy and I will be there. Contact me at 286-2529 for more info. Petra
I’m interested in bee keeping. Can I com e to your meeting ? If so what time and where ? Thsn km s
Yes, you are most welcome at our meetings. We meet monthly ( except for August ) at 7:00 PM in the East/West building at the Ward Agriculture Center in Lebanon, Tennessee. Please refer to the calendar above for meeting and event dates.