The summer solstice has passed, the days are shortening (not that we’ll notice for a few months), and the bees are hard at work. So are we beekeepers.

Come down to Cooperstown for the June meeting of the Leatherstocking Beekeepers’ Association to share your stories from the apiary, listen to the experience of other local beekeepers, and learn from our presenters.

This month the meeting will start out with a preview of the business meeting which will include discussion of the upcoming apiary visit, the annual picnic, seeking volunteers to man our booth at the Farmers’ Museum Harvest Festival, and discussion of the Most Appealing Hive Contest.

This will be followed by the educational presentations:

“Honey Harvesting” with Richard Lercari.
Mot of us beekeepers are eager to pull some of the sweet stuff out of the hive and share in our bees bounty. Richard will discuss the various aspects of the honey harvest, including the equipment needed.

“Summer Blossoms” with Liz Burroughs.
Our honey bees are a critical part of a much bigger ecological environment. To understand bee
activity you need to know how they interact with the ever changing seasonal foliage.

“The Value of Member Participation” with Stephanie Wardwell.
We have had a wonderful influx of new members. They are always encouraged to participate in
planning activities for the Association. Stephanie will discuss some of the benefits of being an
active member of YOUR Association.

Each presentation is followed by a question and answer session.

All members are invited to stick around for the business meeting after the educational portion. This is where you can make your voices heard while we discuss all the club business.

The meeting will be held June 27, 2024, at 7 p.m. at The Farmers’ Museum, 5775 State Highway 80, Cooperstown.

We’ll Bee seeing you there!

The bee yards are heating up and the Leatherstocking Beekeepers’ Association is here to discuss. Join fellow local beekeepers to discuss upcoming activities for June, share stories from your apiary and get questions answered.

We will have 3 educational presentations at this months meeting. We will return to the swarm season with Julia Hernandez presenting on “The World’s Easiest Swarm Traps.” No ladder or tarp necessary.

That will be followed by Richard Burroughs (LBA Treasurer) presentation on “Varroa Tests and Treatments.” The Varroa mite is one of the leading causes of poor honey bee health and managing the bees to reduce their number is one of the most important tasks for a beekeeper. Learn how to get a jump on it ahead of the summer boom.

And finally, did your hives make it through winter and now are overcrowded? Are you worried about swarming? Do you want to expand the apiary or replace winter losses? Learn how easy it is in the presentation “Splits” with Steve Davis (Mentoring Coordinator).

A business meeting will follow the lectures. All are invited to attend.

The LBA was donated several medium supers, each with 9 frames. We do not recommend using old equipment. These are available for no charge and at your own risk. The frames do contain old and most likely unusable foundation and comb.

Also, we are currently seeking beekeepers to sign up to be included on the LBA Swarm and/or Cut-Out list. The information will be posted for public access to our website. If interested, please contact Steve Davis at paperclip5@hotmail.com under the subject line Swarm Catcher. E-mails should include name, town, phone number, best e-mail to reach you at, and whether you do cut-outs or swarms only.

The Leatherstocking Beekeepers’ Association will meet May 23 at 7 p.m. at The Farmers’ Museum, 5775 State Highway 80, Cooperstown.

We will Bee seeing you there!