Bee Weekend 2014
The 39th Annual Bee Weekend
Hosted by GloryBee Foods
Location: 29548 Airport Rd, Eugene, OR 97402
Would you like to purchase bees? Give us a call at 1-800-456-7923.
On Friday April 11th and Saturday April 12th, GloryBee will host its 39th Annual Bee Weekend! This two-day community event is packed with beekeeping education, distribution of pre-ordered packages of live bees, live demonstrations, honey sampling, onsite food vendors and additional activities.
Bee Weekend Hours:
Friday, April 11th – 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 12th – 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Bee Pickup Times:
Friday, April 11th – 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 12th – 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Friday, April 11th – 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. & 3:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 12th – 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.
Meet the 2014 American Honey Queen
GloryBee will host the 2014 American Honey Queen, Susannah Austin, at this year’s Bee Weekend. Susannah will speak about the importance of honeybees to Oregon agriculture and how honeybees are worth billions in pollination. She will also share information about the many uses for honey.
Susannah Austin is daughter of Kris and Catherine Austin of Orlando, Florida. She is a sophomore at the University of Central Florida, where she is pursuing a degree in biology with the hopes of becoming a veterinarian. Besides bees, Susannah is interested in photography, knitting, cooking, reading, playing with her dog, and spending time with family and friends.
As the 2014 American Honey Queen, Susannah serves as a national spokesperson on behalf of the American Beekeeping Federation, a trade organization representing beekeepers and honey producers throughout the United States. The Honey Queen and Princess speak and promote in venues nationwide, and, as such Queen Susannah will travel throughout the United States during her year-long reign. Prior to being selected as the American Honey Queen, Susannah served as the 2013 Florida Honey Queen. In this role, she promoted the honey industry at fairs, festivals, and farmers’ markets, via television and radio interviews, and in schools.
The beekeeping industry touches the lives of every individual in our country. In fact, honeybees are responsible for nearly one-third of our entire diet, in regards to the pollination services that they provide for a large majority of fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes. This amounts to nearly $19 billion per year of direct value from honeybee pollination to United States agriculture.
Learn with Bee Girl
Sarah Red-Laird is the founder and Executive Director of Bee Girl. Her love of bees and their honey began in Southern Oregon, on the deck of her aunt's cabin, at the end of a country road. Sarah carried her affinity for honey bees with her through to Montana where she chose honey bees and Colony Collapse Disorder as her research project for the Davidson Honors College at the University of Montana. She graduated with honors, and as a University Scholar from UM's College of Forestry and Conservation.
She is excited to "bee" in Southern Oregon to combine her love of bees with her education, outreach, and non-profit experience to encourage and support the newest generation of bee lovers. No matter what she gets her honey stickied hands into, at the core of the Bee Girl organization is our mission of preserving honeybees, beekeepers, and food resources by providing outreach, education, support, and mentorship for beekeepers and communities.
Bee Girl teaches classes for beginning beekeepers and works one-on-one with beekeepers and their honey bees. She works to educate the next generation of honey beekeepers and advocates through her Kids and Bees program and the Southern Oregon University Beekeeping Club. She is also working on an initiative to help farmers and other land managers help our bees though conserving bee habitat and planting bee forage.
Bee Installation Demonstrations
Dick Turanski, founder and beekeeper, along with his son and Vice President, Alan Turanski, will demonstrate live bee installation into hives. The demonstrations are a must-see; for non-beekeepers, they offer a rare chance to see a colony of bees up close.
You don't have to be a beekeeper to participate! Bee Weekend has become a popular community event, featuring honey tasting, activities for kids and much more. Additionally, our Factory Store will be open so you can purchase supplies, bee-related gifts and toys, and a variety of tasty treats. Come see the bees up-close and learn more about these tiny and amazing creatures!
Study up before Bee Weekend. Read Beekeeping 101 by clicking here.
Beekeepers prepare for the beekeeping year early by preordering packaged bees. Due to the increasing popularity of beekeeping as a hobby, it is recommended to order bees early in case of shortages. Beginners can prepare by purchasing how-to books and attending workshops like those offered through local beekeeping associations. Supplies like boxes, frames, foundation and other equipment should be purchased well in advance to allow plenty of time to paint the hives and prepare the frames and foundation. For an easy way to get started, GloryBee offers a beginning beekeeping kit that will get novices off on the right foot.
Oakshire Inspires Event
Start bee weekend a bit early on Wednesday April 9th with a pint of Save the Bee Ancient Ale at the Oakshire Brewing Public House.
GloryBee has partnered with Oakshire Brewing to craft a unique single batch ancient ale featuring GloryBee honey and other ingredients. $1 from every pint sold at the pub will be donated to our Save the Bee Campaign. Not a beer drinker? Stop on by and enjoy live music by the Rosannas starting at 5:00pm.
Live music, good beer, and an opportunity to save the bee. Click here to RSVP!