HAMPDEN — More than 200 beekeepers will convene at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, at the New Hampden Academy for the annual meeting and conference of the Maine State Beekeepers Association. The event will brings together beekeepers and non-beekeepers from all over Maine to hear guest speakers, meet other interested in beekeeping and see the many vendors.
Peter Cowin, also known as The Bee Whisperer, is resident of Penobscot County Beekeeper’s Association. “We are very excited to be hosting the MSBA’s annual meeting and
conference. We in Penobscot are a brand new club and it’s a great honor for us to bring
the meeting to Hampden. This is the furthest north and east the MSBA has held its annual meeting. It is a great opportunity for Down East beekeepers and non-beekeepers
to go to the meeting without having to travel down to Augusta or Portland.”
Dr. Dewey Caron will be keynote speaker. With more than 43 years experience in honeybee research, he will deliver two talks aimed to inform both experienced and inexperienced beekeepers. He will look at the basics of opening the hive and reading the brood frame as well as bee stewardship. He is the author of many beekeeping books and a widely sought after public speaker.
Tony Jadczak, the Maine state apiarist and bee inspector, will give an update of beekeeping in Maine in 2014.
Erin McGregor-Forbes, former president of the beekeepers association will talk about the conclusions drawn from a three-year study she has undertaken on the survival and performance of honeybee colonies using southern reared and northern reared queens.
Matt Scott, who has now retired from positions of deputy commissioner of Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and chief biologist for DEP and president of the Maine State Beekeepers Association, will talk on the Impact of climate change on beekeeping.
Many raffle items will be available. Proceeds from the raffles benefit the beekeepers.
The meeting is open only to members of the association. For information about cost and how to obtain tickets, go to www.mainebeekeepers.org/annual-meeting/.
Those who wish to be vendors at the event or who want to donate a raffle item should email pcbamaine@gmail.com.