What a weekend I just had! I spent two days immersed in the magical world of bees with brilliant and curious people who share my obsession. The Georgia Beekeepers Association (GBA) 2023 Fall conference featured speakers from all over the world presenting their studies and perspectives on topics such as honey bee genetics, combatting hive stressors, natural beekeeping, bee research in Georgia, and apitherapy. The conference also offered training and certification testing as well as combined honey + artisan shows.

Each day of the conference, attendants were given two opportunities to attend breakout talks to delve into topics of interest. The four breakout sessions I chose to attend were titled:

• “Bee Experience On The Airbnb Worldwide Platform”
• “Bee-ginner’s Track: Honey Bee Pests + Disease”
• “License Plate Grants Demystified”
• “Better Beekeeping Using Broodminder T25M Temperature Sensors”

Not only did I leave the conference with surely more tactile info than my registration fee could buy, I made connections that are already proving to be pivotal in my journey as a beekeeper. I also received these key takeaways and affirmations:

• I must write my own definition of success as a beekeeper.
• On average, beekeepers experience annual losses of 48% of their managed bee colonies. While only 20% of wild (non-beekeeper managed) colonies die each year.
• Modern beekeeping has not given bees better lives.
• I MUST read “The Lives of Bees – The Untold Story of the Honey Bee in the Wild” and every other book written by Thomas D. Seeley.
• I can and should follow my instinct to develop my skills as a NATURAL beekeeper.
• GBA wants to give me money to help spread my love of bees.
• We need more diversity in beekeeping.

Obviously, I’m grateful we chose to invest in my attendance. It helped me to feel hopeful and inspired for my future with the bees and clearer on the role I am being called to play. I look forward to opportunities to expand my knowledge + network by attending future bee conferences – locally, nationally, and internationally.