Welcome to the Wannabee Hobby Beekeepers site. Our club was organized in 2009 and has grown to over 200 members. The purpose of our club is to create and further develop interest in honey bees and beekeeping in our beautiful Black Hills area as well as elsewhere. Our club provides a forum to share knowledge and mutual interests in beekeeping.
The Mission of our club is to provide our membership and the general public with information and discussions to promote honey bees and beekeeping in the Black Hills.
As of the May meeting, the club again has a secretary — Michelle Hovland. See the May Meeting Minutes. Thanks for volunteering, Michelle
Queens ready to pick up Saturday May 18
Jerry said the queens will be ready to pick up on Saturday May 18. He has extra. Please contact him. p2j1@centurylink.net – (605)381-9986
Announcement – Master Gardeners Plant Exchange – May 18, 2013
May 18, 2013 - 8:00 am drop off time & pick up your coupon. 10:00 am share begins. At the Materials Recovery Center / RC Landfill – 5555 S Hwy 79. “Thin your landscape or house plants a few weeks ahead, pot them up, label what they are & bring them to the plant share. You will be issued a numbered coupon for 4 plants or pkg of seeds. When your number is called you will be able to wanter through the array of plants & pick out 4 to take home. It’s a good way to share what you have in your garden and get some new things to add“. There will be educational display’s, refreshments and door prizes while you wait. Sponsored by the Pennington County Master Gardeners, the Garden Club and the Materials Recovery Center.
Eagle Butte Land+Water=Food Summit – May 20-21, 2013
A representative from the Intertribal Agriculture Council requested the bee club send a representative to present at their 1st Annual Food Summit in Eagle Butte on May 20-21. Ellen Conroy has volunteered to be the presenter at this event. More information can be found here: http://www.iactechhelp.com/events/
Bee Nuc Arrival from Jerry Owens – May 25, 2013
Jerry says the nucs will be ready for pickup on Saturday, May 25th in the parking lot behind the Senior Citizens Center. This year the queens are a cross between Italian and Minnesota Hybrid queens (last year they were Italian only). Pick up the bees anytime after 5:00 AM and before 10:00 AM. The ‘installing a nuc’ demonstration will be around 9:00 am in May Hall Park.
2013 Meetings
Our monthly meetings begin at 6:00 PM on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at the Canyon Lake Senior Citizens Center. Not a member? Join us anyway to see if you would be interested.
Be sure to register your honey bees with the State of South Dakota. See the SD Department of Agriculture Beekeeping and Apiary Resources site for beekeeping information specific to our area.
Fun for kids of all ages – ‘Why honey bees are better than politicians‘
Don’t forget to check out the Buy/Sale/Trade page and the Classes and Events page with informative information and links to ‘how to’ workshops.
Welcome our new 2013 WannaBee Club Officers. See the Contact Us page for more details.
- Bill Clements – President
- Tom Allen – Vice President
- Brenda Whiting – Treasurer
- Michelle Hovland – Secretary
- Linda Anderson - Webmaster
- Michelle Grosek – Facebook Master
Did you know? In 2009, South Dakota had 185 registered beekeepers with 30% being commercial producers and the remaining 70% being hobbyist beekeepers. There were 290,000 colonies registered in the state in 2009. Nationwide, the average annual production per hive was 67 pounds (from 2002 to 2007). In South Dakota it was an estimated 71 pounds per hive in the same time frame. South Dakota ranks between 1st and 5th in the United States in total honey production (in 2009, we were number 2 with 17.8 million pounds of honey produced).
