Bee School Speakers & Class Descriptions

We have made an attempt to help guide the attendees of the bee school in making the decision on what class to attend by grouping the classes according to the audience type for each class. But use this as a ‘general guide’ – you (of course) are free to attend any class that piques your interest.

Andric, Tony: Tony Andric is a recovering computer/electrical engineer, addicted beekeeper, makes doors for chickens?, has zero life insurance, lives near Lockhart, Texas (BBQ capital of Texas), old, fat, white, bald, bearded guy (1967 model), married, uses Langstroth mediums only with top entrances, survival genetics & is treatment free.

Top Entrance Langstroth: (Room 138: 1:00) The bottom entrance design in Langstroth hives is the Achilles heel of the design, but otherwise I love Langstroth hives. Come learn how I’ve overcome this design flaw. Advantages of Top-entrance Langstroth Hives: The bottom entrance design in Langstroth hives is the Achilles heel of the design, but otherwise I love Langstroth hives. Come learn how I’ve overcome this design flaw.
Managing Mean Bees: (Room 138: 2:05) When Africanized bees were first brought to South America, it was because they had some traits that were desirable. This program looks at the useful properties that "hot bees" possess as well as how to live and work with them safely.

Barajas, Becky: Becky has spent the past 13 years following her love for bees, from being scared of opening her first hive into a life of learning, teaching, and community. She and her husband care for around 50 colonies and enjoy helping others grow in their own beekeeping journeys. From mentoring and inspecting hives to managing The Bee Supply in Round Rock, Becky is passionate about supporting both bees and the people who care for them.

Beekeeping for Profit- More than Honey: (Room 137: 2:05) There's more than one way to make money with bees! Beekeeping is not cheap, through this presentation, we explores the many income opportunities available—from earning a little extra spending money to building a successful business. We'll cover lots of creative ways to turn your passion into profit. Whether you're a backyard beekeeper or ready to grow your apiary, you'll leave with practical ideas and inspiration to make the most of your passion and your bees.

Barnes, Chris: Chris began his beekeeping journey in 2013 when his wife Dalene signed him for a beekeeping school without his knowledge. She wanted 2 hives. The first class he attended talked about how they could get an Ag Valuation on their property taxes - he came out of the class saying they needed 6 hives. Today they operate Cornerstone Honey bees and are scaling back to a little more than 50 hives. Chris & Dalene started the Brazos Valley Beekeepers Association in 2015 and have served on the Board of Directors in pretty much all of the positions at one time or another. Chris is also a founding member of the Texas Association of Professional Beekeepers, a statewide 501c6 non-profit organization dedicated to serving the needs to people who specialize in live bee removals.

Equipment Choices for Getting Started: (Room138: 10:55) Trying to figure out what you NEED, what is nice to have, and what you DON'T need can be an overwhelming decision for new beekeepers. This class goes through the options in a manner that will help keep your eyes from glazing over from the mountain of choices.
Beeks 105: Apiary Setup: (Room 172: 3:10) This class goes through the decision making process of figuring out WHERE to place your hives on your property, how to arrange the hives, etc. in a manner that is best for you.

Barnes, Dalene: Dalene began beekeeping in 2013 when her cantaloupe in her garden needed help. She signed herself and her hubby up for the Brenham Beekeeping School, and they were sold, Dalene for her garden, Chris for the Ag Valuation. 13 years and 55 hives later.... The Barnes started the Brazos Valley Beekeeping Club in their living room, and have continued to serve and be involved since. Dalene has served in several 501c(3) clubs throughout her 45 years of marriage to Chris and their homeschooling and now beekeeping journey.

Wax Rendering: (Room 137: 9:35) This class will show the basic steps to get your raw cappings and used comb to a (hopefully) beautiful piece of beeswax. Lots of show and tell items.
Record keeping for the Hobbyist: (Room 137: 10:55) If you are starting your journey as a beekeeper, you may be wondering about what records you need to keep. This class discusses some ideas (talk to a tax accountant for real advice) that you may find helpful regarding hive inspection records, sales tax exemption, Ag Valuation, and a bit about the IRS.

Baxter, Bill: BS degree (Animal Science) 1976 Texas A&M 40 years with Texas Apiary Inspection Service; extensive work with Africanized Honey bees.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM): (Room 136A: 10:55) sampling for varroa mites, other pest management, interpreting sample numbers

Blackburn, Hannah: Hannah Blackburn graduated from Texas A&M University in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Entomology. She has been an Apiary Inspector for the state of Texas since November 2018 and has been an active member of the Apiary Inspectors of America (AIA) and Texas Beekeeper's Association (TBA) since that time.

As a state apiary inspector, Hannah meets with beekeepers across the state of Texas. She helps with the collection of data for the USDA APHIS National Honey Bee Survey every year and has helped collect specimens for the Pennsylvania Native & Non-Native Wasp Survey. Hannah's role as an inspector is to visit with beekeepers, looking through their hives for American Foulbrood and European Foulbrood, and providing them with information about pests and diseases associated with beekeeping. Hannah also serves on the Board of Directors for the Texas Master Beekeepers Program.
In her spare time, Hannah is an extrovert with many interests, including: karaoke, gaming with friends, camping, crafting, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and listening to Sci-Fi audio books.

Doom & Gloom: Tropilaelaps Mite, Yellow-Legged Hornet, & Spotted Lanternfly: (Room 170: 2:05) This talk will be an opportunity to learn about the Tropilaelaps Mite, an upcoming threat to beekeeping and the world. In this talk you will learn more about the Mite, its lifecycle and biology, some monitoring and management techniques to consider as well as how to report the Mite if you think you've found it. I will also cover the Yellow-Legged Hornet, and Spotted Lanternfly.

Brackmann, Steve: Steve Brackman was raised on a dairy farm in Northern Illinois and lived there until 1985, when he moved to Texas. Steve began his beekeeping career over 25 years ago; starting out by doing over 2400 removals. Today he focuses on being a queen breeder for the last 10. Have done over 2400 removals; that's how I got started.

Raising Queens for Yourself: (Room 136A: 8:30) Re-queening hives is a common task that many beekeepers use to maintain the healthof their hive. But if you have more than a couple of hives, this can get a somewhat expensive. This class will show you how to raise your own.
Using the Demaree Method: (Room 136A: 9:35) The Demaree method separates the queen from most of the brood by manipulating the frames and using a queen excluder. By using this method, a beekeeper can reduce the incidences of swarming and increase honey production. Learn the steps to successfully use the Demaree method in your apiary.

Butler, Steve: I'm a professional bee remover and long time beekeeper in Robertson County Texas. I'm also a member of several bee associations and professional organizations as well as mentor to several new beekeepers and keep around 100+ hives.

Swarms and simple removals:(Room 136A: 2:05) This will be a presentation on how to catch swarms and perform simple removals of honeybees

Cosby, Kyle: I am a natural organic beekeeper and a professional beekeeper that makes house calls to help the hobby beekeeper come from struggling to thriving. Im also the settings vice chairman on the real texas honey board

Diagnosing and fixing failing hives: (Room 136B: 8:30) What wrong with my bees???? How did i get here and what do I do now. Beekeeping is and should be fun. Beekeeping is only hard if you make it hard
Natural and organic mite control: (Room 136B: 9:35) A natural and organic mite treatment that works. I've been doing this technique for many years now and it works. Love to share this technique with you to bring you from struggling to succeeding.

Gamble, Jason: Primary work in professional hive management for clients in Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Hays, and Travis counties. I've over two decades of experience with honey bees, working around San Antonio, the coastal bend, Uvalde to Del Rio, blackland prairie, Washington and Grimes counties, and the Wimberley/Dripping Springs hill country.

I've managed hives and bred queens in central Texas over the past 14 years.

Top Bar Topics: (Room 137: 8:30) Discussion of the nature of and techniques involved in successful top bar beekeeping. For anyone interested in exploring top bar hives, or anyone just getting started, this class is for you.

Gieseckestrong>, Ryan: Ryan Giesecke owns and operates G-Bar Naturals, an urban homestead project located in East Dallas. From there he periodically offers a variety of learning opportunities, as well as performing bee-friendly removals of honeybees and bumble bees as “Honey Bee Relocation Services”. Ryan loves to talk bees and has done so all across the state. He is president of Texas Association of Professional Bee Removers, past president of Trinity Valley Beekeepers Association in Dallas, past president of Metro Beekeepers Association in Fort Worth, and a Texas Master Beekeeper.

Split Decisions: (Room 170: 10:55) A good introduction for the new beekeeping considering making splits that weighs how to fit them into your situation. There are wrong ways to make splits, but there are lots of right ways as well. This topic leans heavily into the biology behind what bees do in split situations.
Winter is Coming: (Room 136A: 3:10) Honey bees seem to think about winter survival all year long, and maybe we should too! This talk walks us through what to do and what not to do to get your bees ready to make it to next spring.

Hartmann, Tim: Originally from Blanco, TX, Tim Hartmann received his Bachelors and Master’s degrees in Horticulture and Plant Breeding (peaches) in 2009 and 2023, respectively, from Texas A&M University. He received his Ph.D. in Horticulture from Texas A&M in May 2020 after completing a study on the adaptation and feasibility of golden kiwifruit production in Texas. Tim is an assistant professor and Extension fruit specialist with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and the Department of Horticultural Sciences at TAMU, where he teaches the Temperate Fruit & Nut Production course and advises several graduate students. He is responsible for grower support, development of educational material on fruit, and assisting County Extension Agents. Tim’s research focuses on both established commodities such as peach, fig, apple, pear, and plum, as well as exploration of alternative crops apricot, Asian persimmon, pineapple guava, and kiwifruit.

Orchard Management for Keeping Your Trees and Bees Happy: (Room 136B: 2:05) This presentation will cover the basics of growing fruit in the Brazos Valley, from site selection and prep to variety selection, establishment, and maintenance. Pest and disease management will focus on minimizing injury to honeybees and other important pollinators.

Herbert, Dennis: He drafted the original legislation for the current bee law that assists small landowners in receiving their agricultural valuation if they wish to raise bees on their property. He helped shepherd the bill through the legislature in 2011, it became law on January 1, 2012. He has been a beekeeper in Bell County for 20 years.

Ag Exemption (Valuation) using Beekeeping: (Room 137: 3:10) In 2012, the state of Texas changed the law to allow Beekeeping to qualify as an agricultural activity which can qualify the land for a 1-d-1 open space valuation (“exemption”) for your property taxes. This class details what this law requires as well as what most appraisal districts require, presented by the man who helped write the law.

Jones, Daniel: Daniel M. Jones is President and CEO of Bee Man Dan, LLC. He is a sponsor of the Buzz for Gold Sweepstakes, a member of more than seven beekeeper associations. Dan is also an Army foreign war combat veteran with over 10 years of experience in the bee and wasp removal business.

Buzz for Gold Sweepstakes: (Room 120GH: 8:30) Buy a $200 bee-designed silver coin for a chance to win a 24k gold coin—learn how to enter and what it supports.

Knight, Andy: Beekeeping for 15 years, started out to lower property taxes turned big hobby and now own Magnolia Bee & Supply and help others with their journey.

My Journey for Layens Beekeeping: (Room 170: 1:00) My journey to keeping bees in Layens hives

Maxwell, Jerry: Jerry Maxwell hails from Palestine, Texas and is a hobbyist beekeeper with about 11 years of experience managing a small apiary of about 8 hives. He is the founder and current president of Anderson County Beekeepers club in Palestine and runs a small business selling honey and other products from the hive. He also has recently opened a beekeeping school where he teaches a variety of topics related to honey bee husbandry. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Texas Honey Bee Education Association (THBEA) for the past 5 years and is currently an Advanced Level Beekeeper in the Texas Master Beekeeper Program.

Mead Making Made Easy: (Room 170: 3:10) A class on the basics of making mead. This includes a short history of mead, types of mead, the equipment used, and the various ingredients needed to make the perfect mead. (Sorry, no free samples 🙂

Nichols, Keegan: Howdy! My name is Keegan Nichols and I am a post doc at Texas A&M’s honey bee lab. I recently earned my PhD from TAMU surveying the Saudi Arabian honey bee’s genetics, parasites, and pathogens within their commercial colonies. I am now looking at how different environmental conditions affect honey bee reproduction and development. I have been beekeeping and apiary manager for 5 years at TAMU.

Lonestar Pollinators: Pollinators (native bees) in your backyard and their biology: (room 120GH: 10:55) This course explores the biology, ecology, and diversity of native pollinators, with an emphasis on understanding of the essential roles that native bees play as pollinators. We will examine native bee life history, behavior, nesting biology, foraging ecology, and relationships with flowering plants, while also gaining an overview of other important insect pollinators, including butterflies, moths, flies, beetles, and honey bees. As pollinators face increasing environmental stressors, including habitat loss, climate change, pesticides, parasites, pathogens, and changes in floral resources, understanding the biology of different pollinators is increasingly important. We consider how these stressors can affect pollinator populations and how the responses of different species may vary based on their biology and ecological roles.

Oakley, Randy: Randy Oakley brings 50 years of hands-on experience to the art of beekeeping. Today, three generations of the Oakley family work together managing 400 colonies along the I-35 corridor between Austin and Waco, Texas. Grounded in practical, sustainable methods tailored specifically for Texas, the family produces local bees and hive products while helping beginning beekeepers build healthy, lasting apiaries. Learn more about their Beekeeping Bootcamp for beginners and beehive products at www.OakleyBeekeeping.com

Three Steps to Successful Beekeeping for Beginners: (Room 136B: 9:35) Did you know 80% of beginners quit within three years, and half of backyard hives die annually? Beekeeping shouldn’t feel like a guessing game. Join Randy Oakley for a practical session revealing the simple three-step plan he uses to help hundreds of beginners beat the odds. Don’t rely on trial-and-error. Learn a reliable approach to build resilient, thriving hives and find lasting joy in beekeeping.

Never Buy Bees Again by Harnessing the Power of Swarming: (Room136B: 10:55) Honey bees have thrived for eons by swarming every spring. Instead of fighting this natural instinct, learn how to turn it to your advantage. Join Randy Oakley as he outlines how to achieve true apiary sustainability using the simple "Piggyback" hive split. Say goodbye to expensive beehive replacement. Stop relying on trial-and-error, and master a practical method to multiply your hives naturally - so you never have to buy bees again.

Pankonien, Michelle: I have been keeping bees in the Brazos Valley since 2011, a chemical free bee keeper. I utilize making splits and VSH genetics for mite control. I achieved the Master level in Texas Master Beekeeper Program in the first graduating class. I produce bottled honey, comb honey, candles and make moisturizer with my bees wax.

Live Hive Inspections: (Start at Modular Building 4, west side of church complex: 1:00 and 2:05) Opening the bee hive and talking about what is going on in the hive. MUST wear closed toes shoes to participate.

Pedretti, Abby: I am starting my fifth year of beekeeping this semester and have so much I look forward to and work towards. When I started, full suits were our standard and I was really nervous around these spicy little flyers that have recently become a part of my every day life. Now, I’m moving hives, showering in honey and wearing only a veil while also figuring out the construction of opening homes that are in the wrong place. I’m not an expert in bees and am open to learning more from the fellow beekeepers around me.

Swarms and simple removals: (Room 136A: 2:05) This will be a presentation on how to catch swarms and perform simple removals of honeybees

Ralph, Ashley: is the co-founder of Prime Bees, a professional beekeeping operation based in College Station. With a focus on sustainable practices, education, and community engagement, Ashley specializes in management, queen rearing, and pollination services. She has served as President of the Texas Beekeepers Association, Brazos Valley Beekeepers Association and is a Texas Master Beekeeper passionate about helping others grow in their beekeeping journey through practical guidance, hands-on learning, and a deep love & constantly growing understanding of honey bees.

Seasonal Beekeeper Management: (Room 172: 8:30) Beekeeping seasons bring shifting challenges and changing needs. This engaging class explores how seasonal cycles affect bee biology, hive management, and pest and disease pressure. Learn how to anticipate the bees’ needs throughout the year and adapt your approach to support healthy, productive colonies. You'll leave with a clear understanding of the beekeeper’s calendar and the confidence to plan ahead, stay prepared, and respond effectively at every stage of the season.

Beekeeping 107: Effective Hive Inspections: (Room 172: 9:35) This practical session explores the art of hive inspections. Learn what to look for, how to interpret what you see, and how to respond to common situations inside the hive. Perfect for beginners or those looking to deepen their understanding, this class offers clear insight into bee biology, behavior, and signs of trouble. You'll leave with greater confidence, sharper observation skills, and a stronger connection to what your bees are telling you during each inspection.

Rangel, Juliana: Born in Colombia, South America, Juliana obtained a B.S. in Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution in 2004 from the University of California, San Diego. In 2010 she obtained a Ph. D. in Neurobiology and Behavior from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. She was an NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellow from 2010 to 2013 at North Carolina State University. In January 2013, Juliana became Assistant Professor of Apiculture in the Department of Entomology at Texas A&M University (TAMU) in College Station, TX. She was promoted to the rank of Associate Professor with tenure in 2018 and Professor in 2023. Her research program focuses on the biological and environmental factors that affect the reproductive quality of honey bees (Apis mellifera), the behavioral ecology and population genetics of feral honey bee colonies, and the quality and diversity of honey bee nutrition in a changing landscape. She is an active member of the Texas Beekeepers Association and has been invited to speak at dozens of scientific conferences and beekeeping association meetings across the USA and internationally.

The biology of mating: (Room 120GH: 1:00) In this lecture, we will cover basic concepts on the biology of queens and drones, and the biology of mating, including some information about drone congregation areas, queen reproductive quality, and problems associate with poor queen mating. Understanding the basic biology of mating will inform all beekeepers about what they can expect to happen in their hives (or in feral colonies) during the swarming season, which in this part of Texas will begin to occur as early as February.

Shepherd, Tonya: I received my B.S. from the University of Evansville (2009) in biochemistry and received my Ph.D. in Medical Science from Texas A&M University (2016). In 2017, I joined Dr. Juliana Rangel Honey Bee Lab in the Department of Entomology, TAMU, and currently am working as a Research Specialist. My duties include managing the molecular lab, training and mentoring students on their research projects, teach Honey Bee Biology (Ento 320) online and face-to-face.

Using Biotechnology to Help Honey Bees: (Room 120GH: 2:05) How does Norroa work? What is RNAi? Transgenerational immune priming?! This talk will explore broadly different biotechnologies that are being used or studied to help honey bees fight pathogens and parasites.

Slater, Garett: Dr. Garett Slater is an Apiculture specialist with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, based in Overton, Texas. He leads the statewide apiary program, delivering education and applied research to support sustainable beekeeping and stronger colonies across Texas. He coordinates the Texas Master Beekeeper Program and works closely with beekeepers through workshops and field-based training. His research focuses on honey bee breeding and genetics, developing practical tools to improve queen quality, colony health, and productivity.

Texas Honey Bee Health & Diagnostics Lab: (Room137: 1:00) The new Texas Honey Bee Diagnostic lab will provide comprehensive testing to support beekeepers across the country. Services will include pathogen and disease screening, Varroa and pesticide resistance testing, honey bee genetic and ancestry analysis, queen and breeding-stock evaluation, and statewide pathogen surveillance. The lab will also provides nutritional and pollen analysis, honey quality and composition testing, and screening for adulteration and bioactive properties. In this presentation, we will discuss the role of the lab and how it can support beekeepers statewide.

Smith, Rex: Rex Smith has been beekeeping for 17 years; for the last 15 years as his full-time vocation. Rex provides beekeeping services in the form of livestock for land agriculture valuation, beekeeping education/classes, and honey production. He resides in North Texas and is past-President of the Texas Association of Professional Bee Removers trade organization.

Making Splits: (Room 138: 3:10) There are dozens of ways to split a hive; most of them have specific uses for WHY you are wanting or needing to split a hive: Increasing the number of hives, preventing swarming, calming down an aggressive hive are just some of those reasons. This class will look at the reasons you might want to split your hives and an easy method for accomplishing your goals.

Beeks 104: Pests of the Hive: (Room 172: 2:05) Pests and disease are not a fun topic, but one that a successful beekeeper must not ignore. This will be an introduction class, and we will spend much of the class discussing the most common pests and diseases, and learn how to identify them in the colony. Tara will also share best practices for preventing and managing the featured pests and disease

Steinhauer, Angela: Chief apiary inspector since 2023.

Texas Apiary Law: (Room 170: 8:30) Texas law as it pertains to beekeepers

Stillman, Dodie: Dodie Stillman began attending meetings of the Austin Area Beekeepers and Williamson County Area Beekeepers Associations in 2011. She was part of the inaugural class of the Texas Master Beekeepers Program, becoming one of the first five Master Craftsman Beekeepers in Texas. Dodie currently serves on the TMBP board. Over the past six years, she has worked with the Texas Beekeepers Association board, including serving as president, and is now active on the Legislative Committee and co-chairs the TBA Honey Show. Dodie also holds the first level of the Italian Honey Sensory Certification program.

10 Activities to Build Stronger Colonies: (Room 170: 9:35) A frank discussion of the 10 things that beekeepers need to do in order to ensure the success of their honey bee colonies... as presented by veteran beekeeper, educator, and former president of the Texas Beekeepers Association

Looking for Drone Congregation Areas with a Mechanical Drone: (Rom 136B: 1:00) In the past it's been difficult for beekeepers to find drone congregation areas (DCAs), but with the advent of mechanical flying drones, access to finding DCAs is readily available to anyone with one of these aircraft. Find out about my TMBP final project, and learn how you can find and map DCAs. This presentation will start easy so everyone can follow and it includes music and video clips!

Tasting Honey with All Your Senses: (Room 136B: 3:10) Discover the art of tasting honey like a true sommelier in this immersive sensory class. Sample a curated selection of varietal honeys while exploring their unique colors, aromas, and flavor profiles. Learn to identify subtle differences, deepen your palate, and experience honey in a whole new way.

Stillman, Kev: Sweet Ass Honey harvest this year set records. 9 buckets of Wildflowers honey. Started with 3 hives in 2013 and now we have 16. I retired from government work, information Specialist, I was primarily a still image photographer. Always keep taking photos and videos of your bees.

I communicate with honeybees just to let them know that they are incredible. I play music to honeybees also known as tanging to the bees. Someone said when you retire you should take up a hobby. Stings are painful, chiggers are worse, fire ants are everywhere, spiders hide, wax moths are gross, mites, hive beetles, and snakes. Now bee school.

Smoking outdoors: Lighting a smoker. (Start at Modular Building 4, west side of church complex: 1:00 and 2:05) The importance of calming the hive. Fire safety and equipment maintenance.

Tabrizi, Mandy: Mandy Tabrizi is the County Executive Director with the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) for Brazos, Burleson, Grimes, and Walker counties. She started her service career with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. After 5 years with the TAMU system, she began working for FSA. She adventured to Montana and assisted producers during the historical Yellowstone River Flood. Three years ago, she returned home to help producers navigate FSA programs and utilize those programs in the wake of disasters.

USDA Assistance for BeeKeepers: (Room 120GH: 9:35) The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has programs to help honey producers every step of the way — from plants to the final product. This presentation will cover how to get started with USDA and the different programs available through the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to help protect and conserve habitat, protect your investments and recover from disasters impacting your operation.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Risk Management Agency (RMA) also have programs available to assist beekeepers. You can learn more about USDA assistance for honey producers at your local USDA Service Center. Find your local USDA Service Center at farmers. gov/service-locator. If you’re new to working with USDA, check out farmers.gov/newfarmers to learn how to get started.

Veiseh, Ed: Over 12 years of Bee removal, and bee keeping experience. managing 300+ colonies on 28 different farms. One of the founding members of TXapbr.org and currently serving on the board as vice president.

Capturing swarms and mitigating swarms: (Rom 136B: 8:30) How to catch swarms and to keep your boxes from swarmming. Honeybee control – getting Honeybees to do what you want.: Advanced techniques on controlling Swarms and colonies

Vidrine, Michael: I have a small farm in Brazos county with 250 fruit trees and over 50 pecan trees plus a large vegetable garden. I also have 10 bee colonies and have raised bees on the property for 13 years. I have been a certified Master Gardener for 20 years and teach fruit and vegetable classes for a number of organizations. I have gardened my whole life in zones from the upper mid west to the tropics.

Plants for You and Your Bees: (Room 120GH: 3:10) What plants do well in our area that are beneficial for you and your bees. I put special emphasis on plants that provide food and sustainable landscape interest that bees also utilize.

Ward, Lauren: Lauren Ward is the owner of A Bar Beekeeping, providing beekeeping education and hive management services. Lauren has had a lifelong interest in insects and agriculture, culminating in a Master’s degree in Entomology in 2014 and Board Certification in Entomology in 2015. Located in Caldwell, A Bar Beekeeping provides service across a wide area from the Texas Hill Country to Houston.

101: Honey Bee Basics and Biology: (Room 172: 10:55) Understanding basic honey bee biology is the foundation of good beekeeping. This presentation will cover the roles of different bees in the hive, their development, and explore how a colony made up of thousands of individual bees functions as one "superorganism".

103: Nutrition and Feeding: (Room 172: 1:00) Honey bees naturally rely on flowering plants for nearly all of their nutritional needs. This presentation explores what those vital components are and what they do. Managed colonies can benefit from receiving supplemental feed if nutrition is lacking, so we will also cover how to determine if a colony needs to be fed and best management practices for feeding.