News from the President

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September 9, 2021

Monthly Meeting

Sourwood Contest!

Did your bees produce the Best Tasting Sourwood Honey in McDowell County this year?  Enter this year's contest and find out!

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Our September monthly meeting will be held Thursday Sep 9 at Keeper's Cut Meadery in Marion, NC.  Following a short business meeting at 6:30 pm, the contest will begin.  This will be our annual taste testing contest to see who produced the best Sourwood Honey in the county.  McDowell County has a long and proud history of beekeeping; and Sourwood Honey is our specialty.  The Beekeeping Club is honored to once again sponsor this contest.

To enter the contest, bring your honey (properly-labeled, one-pound jar) between 6:00 - 6:30 pm on Sep 9 to the Keeper's Cut Meadery, 175 West Henderson St, Marion, NC.

All McDowell County Beekeepers are welcome to enter the contest (must be June/July 2021 honey).  Everyone (club members, non-members, family, guests, and the public) is invited to come and be a judge to help us select the Best Tasting Sourwood Honey in the County.  We will select the top 3 honeys based on poplar vote.  This is a blind tasting contest judged only on the taste of the honey.  Due to COVID concerns, indoor-gathering safety measures (face masks and social distancing) are encouraged.

May the best honey win--will it be yours!

Advanced Honeybee Course
Join us for a 3-day advanced honeybee course Saturday, September 11, 18, & 25.  Taught by long-time beekeeper Bill Hendley of Marion, NC.

The first two classes will be held at the William Harold Smith Building, room 113, at McDowell Technical Community College.  The last class will be a hands-on demo in a bee yard. 

Topics include: Honeybee Biology; Pests and Diseases; Nutrition; Queen Rearing; Swarming; Honey; Sustainable Beekeeping; & Queen Grafting.

Each class begins at 8:30 am and ends at 3:00 pm.  Cost for all 3 days is $20.  Attendance is limited to 30 people.  Registration deadline is September 3rd. To register: contact Tom Devine at the McDowell Cooperative Extension Office 828-652-8104 or email tom_devine@ncsu.edu

If interested, register immediately as space is limited.

All the best.....Ed
Ed Speer, President McDowell Beekeeping Association
Marion, NC

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