RCBCA Queen Rearing Course

Description

The Queen Rearing course is being offered by the Raleigh County Beekeepers Cooperative Association.

Space is limited to 10 participants.

Course Prerequisite: Beekeeping experience greater than two years

Recommended: Previous Intermediate/Advanced beekeeping course or equivalent beekeeping experience greater than two years

Course Instructor: Mark Lilly is the current President of the Raleigh County Beekeepers Cooperative Association. Mr. Lilly is also a West Virginia Master Beekeepers and an EAS Master Beekeeper. He is currently a beekeeper/educator for the Appalachian Beekeeping Collective, managing over 500 colonies.

This course will consist of a Friday evening and a Saturday session. The first session will be Friday, May 19, 2023 and will consist of an instructional course on queen rearing. Participants will be provided a handout for notes and as a reference guide. The second session will be Saturday, May 20, 2023 and will be a hands-on session in which participants will graft queens. Participants will be provided their own grafting tool, cell bar, grafting station and (15) queen cell cups but must bring their own medium or deep frame.

The first class will run from 6:00PM to 8:00PM on Friday, May 19, 2023 and will be held at the Raleigh County Board of Education Central Office located at 105 Adair Street, Beckley, WV 25801. The second class will run from 11:00AM to 2:00PM on Saturday, May 20, 2023 at the Raleigh County School Apiary Yard in Cool Ridge, WV. In case of inclement weather, the Saturday class would be rescheduled for another Saturday and participants would be notified via email. Note: Participants would be able to pick up larvae cells on Sunday, May 21, 2023 (time to be determined) or pick up capped cells on Thursday, May 25, 2023 (time to be determined). All unclaimed cells become property of the Raleigh County Beekeepers Cooperative Association.

Course fees are as follows:

• $85 per student for non-members pre-registered (Pre-registration January 20, 2023 to May 10, 2023)
• $70 per student for RCBCA members, pre-registered
• $80 per student for RCBCA members, non pre-registered
• $90 per student non-pre-registered

Interested in becoming a member of the Raleigh County Beekeepers Cooperative Association?

Benefits of RCBCA Membership ($20.00)

• Membership is for entire immediate family ($14 goes to the RCBCA & $6 goes for membership in the WV Beekeepers Association)
• Monthly meeting with education programming
• Reduced product costs through cost-sharing opportunities with the RCBCA
• Reduced honey extraction fees for extractions through the Raleigh County Schools Extraction Center
• Hands-on beekeeping workshops at the Raleigh County Schools Apiary Yard
• Collaborative partnerships with local community groups
• Opportunity to sell honey in the annual Beckley Honey Festival
• Mentorship from other RCBCA members
• Honey and beekeeping supplies sales opportunities
• Fellowship with local beekeepers
• Discounts at RCBCA classes and WVBA conferences