Western PA Beekeeping Seminar
The Western PA Beekeeping Seminar is back for 2025!!
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 7th and 8th, 2025 and will be held at the Gateway Senior High School in Monroeville located at 3000 Gateway Campus Boulevard, Monroeville, PA 15146
Online registration for early bird tickets are on sale now! 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 on December 1st, and $85 for those purchasing tickets at the door on February 8th. Anyone registering day of the event will not be guaranteed lunch.
Click here to purchase tickets now!!
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. The morning session will begin at 8:15. We are happy to announce the following confirmed speakers for our 2025 event: Dr. Lawrence Conner, Dr. Jon Zawislak, Fred Dunn, Dr. Robyn Underwood, and more!
We will have several breaks where attendees can shop the many bee equipment vendors who will be in attendance. The 2025 vendor list for the seminar is a work in progress and will be updated as we get vendors added. In addition to vendors we will also be having a photo booth where you can get your photo taken for the event!
After lunch until 4:30 there will be three breakout sessions which will offer a variety of topics.
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.
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.
Hotel information: This year we are partnering with SpringHill Suites and Hampton Inn to provide hotel room discounts for those interested.
Springhill Suites is offering rooms starting at $113.00 a night and Hampton Inn is offering rooms starting at $119.00 a night. Please click either link below to be directed to the hotel of your choice.
Event schedule:
Friday February 7th, 2025
7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Beekeeping Discussion "Buzz In" - Dr. Robyn Underwood hosts an interactive beekeeping trivia game with our guest speakers, and
invites audience participation. Are you smarter than a PhD?
Saturday February 8th, 2025
Morning Session 8:15 am to 11:40 am will be in the auditorium
7:15 - registration begins - coffee and donuts available in the vendor area of the auxillary gym
8:15 - Welcome - Joe Zgurzynski (WPA Beekeeping Seminar Chair), Hannah Durkin (MC,
2018 PA Honey Queen)
8:15 - Dr. Jon Zawislak– Honey Bee Pheromones (60 minutes)
9:15 - BREAK (20 minutes)
9:35 - Karen Roccasecca – PA State Apiarist - Beekeeping in PA (20 minutes)
9:55 - Dr. Lawrence Connor – What EVERY Beekeepers Need to Know about Bee
Genetics and Bee Breeding (60 minutes)
10:55 - BREAK (20 Minutes)
11:15 - Dr. Robyn Underwood – Penn State Extension Update (20 minutes)
11:35 - Remarks by 2025 PA Honey Queen and PSBA Representative (10 minutes)
11:45 - LUNCH BREAK – VENDORS OPEN
Breakout Session I (1:15 - 2:05 pm)
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More than Honey: Other Products of the Hive - Dr. Jon Zawislak
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Welcome to the Drone Zone: You are about to enter another dimension to beekeeping - Kate Anton
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Honeybee Anatomy Witnessed through Photos and Experiences - Fred Dunn
Breakout Session II (2:25 -3:15 pm) -
Spotted Lanternfly Honeydew Honey - Dr. Robyn Underwood
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Why Increase Colonies are Essential to a Successful Beekeeping Operation - Dr. Lawrence Connor
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Go with the Flow: Nectar Flows, Bloom Dates, and How They Help You - Dr. David Peck
Breakout Session III (3:35 - 4:25 pm) Auditorium
Round Table Discussion – moderated by Joe Zgurzynski and Hannah Durkin
Robyn Underwood, Jon Zawislak, David Peck, Lawrence Connor
