Date:

Name:Address:

Phone:

MCBA meets third Tuesday of eachmonth. (No meeting in December)

Dues are $10.00 annually.

I am interested in more informa-tion, please call me at:( )

Email address:

I want to join the club! Please findenclosed $10.00 for annual dues.

If returning this form by mail, send to:Meade County Extension Office

1041 Old Ekron RoadBrandenburg, KY 40108

Kentucky Department of AgricultureService

The State Apiarist in Frankfort, Kentuckywill connect your beekeeping operationinto an information network that extendsacross the state and throughout the nation.

The State Apiarist will:

• Inspect bees and hives for diseasesand pests (schedule permitting),included lab analysis with writtenreports, if needed.

• Will help and/or aid you in identification,treat and prevent diseases and pests.

• Conduct seminars and training classesfor local beekeepers association andgroups.

• Help to maintain contact with suppliers,experts and professional resources formaximum assistance.

• Put you in touch with Kentucky farmerswho are in need of your honeybees forpollination purposes.

• Timely information(by phone or internet] on questionsrelating to beekeeping.

MEADE COUNTYBEEKEEPERSASSOCIATION

A newly formedBeekeeping Association

consisting of a group of menand women interested in thepromotion and growth of theBeekeeping industry withinthe Meade County regional

area of Kentucky.

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President: Shird RobinsonVice President: Amy Serafin

Secretary: Pat GarciaTreasurer: Ed Wooden

Extension Agent: Andy Mills

BEEKEEPING INTEREST

Honeybees are important to our enjoy-ment and beekeeping is fun as a familyactivity. Beekeeping is a rewardinghobby as well as a creative outlet for aprofitable business. Beekeeping is also ascience and it is important to stay intune not only with interesting facts andfindings related with beekeeping, butalso the responsibilities in maintaining ahive safely and properly, taking care toward off diseases and pests, and educatethose who may be impacted by your deci-sion to keep bees.

Honey neverspoils

OUR SCHEDULE

Our regular monthly meetings occur onthe third Tuesday of each month (NoDecember meeting) at the University ofKentucky Cooperative Extension Office,1041 Old Ekron Rd, Brandenburg,Kentucky. (270)422-4958

Ordinarily, the meetings begin at 7:00p.m. You do not have to be a member toattend these meetings, guest are cer-tainly welcomed. Membership for thoseinterested cost just $10.00 annually.Any state membership is an added fee,but not required. Please contact theoffice if you need additional informationor would like to become a member of theMeade County Beekeepers Association.

EQUIPMENT NEEDEDOR

BEGINNERS OUTFIT

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING

• Coveralls• Round Veil with Plastic Helmet• Pair of Goatskin Gloves

HIVE EQUIPMENT

• 8 cm. Smoker• Screen Bottom Board• 20 Support Pens• 1— Plastic Telescoping Outer Cover• 10— "New Style" Wooden Frames• 10— Sheets of Wired Wax• Foundation• 1— Complete Hive Cover• 1— Wooden Inner Cover• 1—Plastic Entrance Feeder• 1—Hive Tool and Brush

SUGGESTED READING MATERIALS

"How to Keep Bees and Sell Honey"By Walter T. Kelley

"Beekeeping Principles"By James Tew

AMAZING HONEYBEE FACTS

• The honeybee has been around for 30 mil-lion years.

• It is the only insect that produces foodeaten by man.

• Honeybees are environmentally friendlyand are vital as pollinators.

• They have five eyes, six legs, a nectarpouch, two wings and a stomach.

• They are responsible for pollinatingapproximately 80% of all fruit, vegetables,and seed crops (nuts) in the United States.

• Their wings can stroke 11,400 times perminute.

• They can fly for six miles, as fast as fifteenmiles per hour for foraging.

• The average honeybee will produce onlyone -twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in itslifetime.

• It takes about 556 workers to gather 11b.of honey from about two million flowers.

• A honeybee will visit 50-100 flowers duringa collection trip.

• A colony of bees consist of 20,000—60,000 bees and one queen.

• The worker honeybees are all females andlive only about 30—35 days.

• The male honeybees are called drones,they do no work, all they do is mate withthe queen for reproduction.

• Each honeybee colony has a unique odorfor member identification.

• They communicate with one another by"dancing."