The Southwestern Ohio Beekeepers School will be held at the Oasis Conference Center near Loveland, Ohio, on Saturday, March 25. This school is ideal for anyone interested in beekeeping, from those who think they might like to try it, to those with years of experience. There is something here for everyone.

The conference center is ideally located in suburban Cincinnati, just off I-275. This year we expect more than 300 beekeepers to attend. Last year, people attended from Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.

Several bee equipment companies have committed to participate in the conference’s trade show. Door prizes, many of which have been donated by the companies or our local bee associations, will be awarded to attendees.

Beekeeping is vital to many agricultural enterprises now that honeybees rarely exist in the wild. OSU Extension Apiculturalist James Tew is the keynote speaker. The title of his presentation is “Africanized Bees: Exploring the Facts, Exposing the Myths.”

Participants will be free to attend sessions on a variety of topics, including. Getting Started in Bee Keeping, Beekeeping Arts and Crafts, Wax Rendering, Need Queens - Grow Your Own, Keeping Bees without Chemicals. There will be a total of 20 sessions offered.

Preregistration is requested. To receive an agenda and registration information, call 513-887-3722 or 513-695-1311 or go online at http:///warren.osu.edu and link to the Ag and Natural Resource page.

This farm news was published in the February 22, 2006 issue of Farm World.