Speakers Fall 2007

Troy Holbrook has served as Vice President and State President during the past four years and once again opens the WVBA Fall Meeting. Troy’s easy-going way disguises his sharp grasp of things.

Ann Harman, our main presenter, pays West Virginia a return visit from her apiary’s 50 colonies at Flint Hill, VA. Ann was our featured presenter at the 1997 WVBA Fall Meeting. Ann’s accomplishments are many. She is an EAS Master Beekeeper, author of monthly article in Bee Culture Magazine, Co-author of The Honey Cookbook with Ernest Miner, and a certified Honey Judge with the Beekeeping Institute, Wales, in the United Kingdom. Ann has undertaken 49 beekeeping assignments in 26 different countries and is quite proud of her work with Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance (VOCA). Ann is recognized in the beekeeping world as a solid source of knowledge and dedication to the craft of beekeeping and those who practice that craft. Ann’s three presentations are timely and important. They deal with Relieving Stress in the Colony, Coping with Winter: Fall to Spring Management, and Looking at Beekeeping in Brazil and El Salvador with the Africanized Honey Bee.

James & Debbie Copenhaver, both EAS Master Beekeepers founded the WV Master Beekeeper Program. They have consistently judged the honey shows and tested applicants for the Master Beekeeper program. They have a short presentation, “The Voice of Experience,” and will be in the apiary demonstrating how to find the queen and answering your questions. Be Sure to Bring Your Bee Veil (and questions) with you.

Tom Kees, from the Marion Co. Beekeepers, will give a brief update on the Specialty Food Grant. More specific information should be available by meeting time.

George Clutter, our State Apiarist, will update us on conditions and developments around the state and in the Department of Agriculture.

Russ Dean became a beekeeper 1991 on his Jackson County farm because the lack of pollination for the apple trees and black berries. Russ has been active member of the WVBA and local associations. He started the Jackson County Beekeepers Association and later got current president David Rectenwald to take his place and use his leadership skills to build the association. Today Russ is learning to be the new WVBA webmaster and has already started a few new ideas to the pages. Dave Freese has been grooming Russ for this important communication link, and we couldn’t have a more enthusiastic Webmaster. Russ wants to share and solicit website ideas in his presentation.
Updates to the website, new upcoming ideas, and asking for your suggestions.

Gabe & Rhonna Blatt Gabe is 2008 President for HAS (Heartland Apiculture Society) and busy planning for the Conference at Huntington next July. He will have a few minutes to share an HAS update. Rhonna will be working with those interested in painting beeswax Christmas ornaments. This activity will take place at Flame Way Hall at the same time as the hive demonstration at the pavilion. Pre-registration is required so Rhonna can bring enough materials. Cost is $2.50 to be sent in with registration.

David Rectenwald is President of the Jackson Co.Beekeepers. As part of the requirements for the master level of the Master Beekeeper Dave will be doing a presentation on “The Year the Bees Died,” ---Nutrition: a History of where we were, where we are, and where we’re possibly going.

Bill Daetwyler, juggling Army Reserve commitments, has served as WVBA Vice President and Honey Show Chairman for the past two years. Bill’s reserve duties had made it difficult for him to be as involved as he would have liked. Bill has been mobilized for a second time and will likely be unable to be with us physically at this meeting-- only in our thoughts and prayers.

Conference Program