Stanly County Beekeepers Association (SCBA)

08/16/2026

07/30/2026

Be on the lookout 👀 This is getting close. Great time to be vigilant and put some traps out. Keep them honey bees safe!!

06/04/2026

The June 2026 Stanly County Beekeepers Association meeting will be held on Thursday, June 11 starting at 6 p.m. in the Stanly County Farm Bureau Livestock Arena.

Our meal will be Potluck/Covered dish - bring an entree and or dessert with serving utensil. Beverages will be provided.

Our program speaker will be Ashby Miller, Owner of Ashby Farms in Burlington, NC. Ashby will be discussing how to use double screen boards to make splits and the importance of drones in our hives.

Rember to bring a door prize and know that we still have Association "Bees Matter" T-shirts available for purchase.

Also, if you have some pictures of your beekeeping experiences you would like to share, text or email them to me and I will get them on a jump drive to show while we enjoy our meal. Text to 704-475-3095 or email [email protected]

The Queen Rearing class presented by Nancy Ruppert and the Montgomery Beekeepers Association (MCBA) went very well on the first day, but the follow-up training scheduled for Saturday, May 23 was cancelled due to pending rain and thunderstorms.

There is another opportunity sponsored by the MCBA to get some hands-on queen rearing and grafting experience this Saturday, June 13, from 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at the P*e Dee Electric facility, 9825 US-74, Lilesville, NC 28091. Refreshments will be served.

Nancy Ruppert has provided a queen-rearing resource list that our Website Manager, Karla Aldridge has added to our website in the education area.
Associations and Education, including resources for Queen Rearing – Stanly County Beekeepers Association – SCBA

The NC Extension Master Gardeners will be offering a class on how to become a Master Gardener. Andrew Pfeifer, Cooperative Extension Agent, will be teaching the class. The class is scheduled to start on Thursday, July 9, 2026. Contact Andrew at 704-219-4342 for more details.

Finally, Jerry and Donna Cotton are looking to downsize their beekeeping enterprise. You may recall from our visit to his apiary that he and Donna have their hands full!!! If you are in need of bees give Jerry a call at 980-621-6485. He plans on bringing a list of items and prices to the meeting.

Below are some things to do in June:
June
• Main nectar flow starts to dwindle—fewer supers needed, unless sourwood nearby: if in area of sourwood, consider harvesting available honey before mid-June sourwood flow to ensure more “pure” sourwood crop.
• If honey being harvested, put “wet” supers back on hives late in day to limit robbing.
• Can start late-season splits during last half of June; feed splits initially, even if there is nectar available
• Continue measures to control small hive beetle population.
• Check varroa mite levels if not done since February. (www.honeybeehealthcoalition.org)
• Keep water for bees constantly available.
• Make plans for attending NCSBA Summer Meeting in mid-July.
See you soon!

John Ratliff
Membership Chair, Stanly County Beekeepers Association

06/04/2026

05/02/2026

Scenes from the Spring field day.

04/23/2026

Our Spring Field Day will be here before you know it, and the day will be full of new learning opportunities and fellowship with your fellow beekeepers of Stanly County and beyond!

This year's Spring Field Day will take place next Saturday, April 25 from 9:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. We will visit two different apiary's and those who are ready to take their practical beekeepers test will have an opportunity to be tested.

We will start our Spring Field Day at 9:30 a.m. at the home of Jerry and Donna Cotton. We will inspect keeper hives at their apiary. The address is 48147 Gold Branch Road, Richfield NC.

We will then travel to the home of Anne and Bill Houck around 11:30 a.m. Their home is located at is 44574 Paul's Crossing Road, Richfield NC. There we will enjoy a lunch consisting of chicken salad croissants, chips, water and soft drinks and have fun inspecting a top-bar hive, Langstroth hives, play some bee games, and those ready for the practical beekeeping test will have the opportunity to show their knowledge and skills.

Those who wish to take the practical certification test must be current members of the NCSBA, must have passed the basic beekeepers written test, and should have at least 2 months of experience inspecting bee colonies. It is also recommended that they study the Practical Test Form that is available for viewing online through the North Carolina State Beekeepers Association website.

Please contact Anne Houck before Saturday and let her know your intentions to test. She can be reached at: 980-322-3700. Those taking the practical test need to make sure and bring all the items they normally use when inspecting a hive (Bee suit, smoker, fuel, and hive tools).

See you all next Saturday for our Spring Field Day events!!!

Mark Little, President
Stanly County Beekeepers Association
704-985-3383