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Wake County Beekeepers


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Summer Conference 2026

  • July 09, 2026
  • July 11, 2026
  • Benton Convention Center, Winston Salem, NC

Registration


Register

Join fellow club members at the Summer Conference in July.  This year's conference (a joint meeting with South Carolina and Virginia) features Dr. Samuel Ramsey!). See topics listed below.

This RSVP is used to collect information from those attending so we can plan for a dinner out together.  EARLY RSVP is needed to get a number for planning.  We will be gathering for dinner on Thursday evening at the Old Fourth Street Filling Station, only a 14 minute walk from the convention center.  

Please RSVP if you are planning to attend and we will keep you posted on the dinner plans.  We will also meet for a group photo on Friday.

THIS IS NOT A CONFERENCE REGISTRATION, please use this button to visit the NCSBA page on the conference: SUMMER CONFERENCE INFO/REGISTRATION

Keynotes:

  • Dr. Sammy Ramsey
    • Varroa Kleptocytosis – Stealing for the Next Generation
    • Tropilaelaps – A Fate Worse Than Varroa
  • Kaylee Richardson of The Honeystead
    • Planting for Honeybees and Your Health
    • Sweet Medicine: Crafting from the Hive 
  • Dr. David Tarpy
    • The Internal Hive Politics of Queen Bees

Speakers:

  • Molly Carlson – 2026 John T. Ambrose Student Award Recipient
    • The effect of brood pheromone (E-beta-ocimene) on colony growth and queen replacement 
  • Rebecca Craps – NC State, Forsyth County, Extension Agent, Natural Resources and Environmental Systems – Pollinator Matchmaking: Using Native Plants to Support Habitat Restoration
  • BeeMORE Interns – BeeMORE Student Lightening Talks

Workshops:

  • Rahman Tashakkori – BeeMon Project: An integrated hive system using predictive AI for bee health
  • Virginia Webb – Preparing Honey Show Entries
  • State Apiary Inspectors – Don Hopkins & Team – In the Apiary with the State Apiary Inspectors
  • Carla Robertson
    • Update on the Honey Industry 
    • Marketing Your Honey & Products of the Hive
  • Mark Case – What’s Your Why? Beekeeper’s Edition
  • Etienne Nadeau – Counting Queens Days: Do I Need to Buy a Queen?
  • Joe Komperda –
    • Part 1: An Average Joe Beekeepers Guide to Splits – The Basics
    • Part 2: An Average Joe Beekeepers Guide to Splits: Advanced Splitting Techniques
  • Lynne Swanson – How to Run an Engaging Bee School
  • Madison Bridges – Mead-making

Other Items to note are:

  • Master Beekeeper Program testing for all levels Saturday morning Saturday, July 11, 9:00 – 11:00 am; no tests handed out after 10:30 am. You must be registered for the conference to attend.
  • Live bees onsite: Benton Convention Center is bee-friendly and there will be expert apiary instruction in honey bee management.
  • Friday Evening Awards Banquet: Purchase your tickets during registration. Tickets must be purchased in advance.

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