Western PA Beekeeping Seminar
The Western PA Beekeeping Seminar is back for 2024!!
We are once again excited to offer a wide range of informative speakers and vendors for all of your beekeeping needs. This is one of the largest beekeeping seminars in the state that you do not want to miss!
Our upcoming seminar date is Friday, February 9th and 10th, 2024 and will be held at the Gateway Senior High School in Monroeville located at 3000 Gateway Campus Boulevard, Monroeville, PA 15146
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Online registration for the event is now open! Early bird pricing will be $65 per person, so make sure you purchase your tickets early as the price will increase as we get closer to the event! Online ticket sales end on February 1st.
Ticket pricing will increase to $75 after December 1st, and $85 for those purchasing tickets at the door on February 10th. Anyone registering day of the event will not be guaranteed lunch.
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The initial gathering starts on Friday night with a speaker sharing on a topic of interest from 7-8:30 PM. There will be no Friday registration so you don't need to be registered to attend the Friday session.
On Saturday registration begins at 7:15 AM with coffee and donuts and the morning session will begin at 8:15. At this time, we are happy to announce the following confirmed speakers for our 2024 event: Dr. James Tew, Dr. Brock Harpur, Karen Roccasecca, Dr. Robyn Underwood, and Dr. David Peck.
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We will have several breaks where attendees can shop the many bee equipment vendors who will be in attendance. The 2024 vendor list for the seminar is a work in progress and will be updated as we get vendors added.
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After lunch until 4:30 there will be three breakout sessions which will offer a variety of topics.
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Volunteers: In order to make this event happen, we need volunteers to help the day of operations. Volunteers will receive a free t-shirt for your efforts. If you'd like to volunteer, please email Bill Kopar at wkopar@gmail.com
Honey Donation: We encourage all beekeepers to bring a one pound jar or less of honey for donation to the Rosedale food bank located in Verona. Those that donate honey will be given a free raffle ticket.
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T-shirts: Below is a sample of this years event shirt design. Pre-orders are open now on the Eventbrite site. A limited number of event T-shirts will be available at the seminar for sale. We do recommend that you pre-order a shirt in advance as the in person shirts will be limited.
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Hotel information: We have secured a block of hotel rooms near Gateway Highschool at the Springhill Suites for anyone that would like to reserve a room. The room rate is $118 a night. Please click on the link below below to reserve your room. Last day to book is Monday, January 24th, 2024
Book your group rate for Western PA Beekeeping Seminar at the Springhill Suites here!
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For those that would like to stay at the Hampton Inn, please click the link below. Room rate is $119 a night.
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Event schedule:
Friday February 9th, 2024
7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Beekeeping Discussion - Dr. Robyn Underwood and Selina Bruckner - Beekeeper Survey Results
Saturday February 10th, 2024
Morning Session 8:15 am to 11:40 am will be in the auditorium
7:15 - registration begins - coffee and donuts available in the cafeteria
8:15 - Welcome - Joe Zgurzynski and Hannah Durkin
8:25 - Dr. James Tew - What a strange bunch we are
9:15 - Break
9:35 - Karen Roccasecca - State Apiarist - State of Beekeeping Pa.
9:45 - Dr. David Peck - Collective Intelligence in Honey Bees, and the Honey Bee Dance Language
10:35 - Dr. Robyn Underwood - Penn State Ext Educator - Apiculture
10:45 - Dr. Brock Harpur - Lessons on bee genetics throug the eyes of a drone
11:35 - Remarks by PA Honey Queen / PA state beekeeping association president / Survey distribution
11:45 - Lunch Break - Vendors Open
Breakout Session I (1:15 - 2:05 pm)
Dr. James Tew - Thieving Bees - A surprisingly common behavior
Dr. David Peck - Queen Bee Biology
Dr. Robyn Underwood - Honey Bee Anatomy
Breakout Session II (2:25 -3:15 pm)
Karen Roccasecca - Approved Hive Treatments
Dr. Brock Harpur - Honey Bee genetics in the US - PA. edition
Hannah Durkin - Cooking with Honey
Breakout Session III (3:35 - 4:25 pm) Auditorium
Round table discussion moderated by Joe Zgurzynski and Hannah Durkin
Dr. Robyn Underwood, Dr. Brock Harpur, Dr. James Tew, Dr. David Peck
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