Montgomery County Beekeepers Association holds meetings the Second Wednesday of every month except August (replaced with County Fair) and December (replaced by holiday party at locations tbd).

Join MCBA's FORUM to receive timely email updates on featured speakers, weather cancelations, etc. Look under the "Membership" tab for Forum details.

If a meeting is at the Ag Farm, driving directions are HERE.

LOOK at what is COOKING!

2024 April 10 MEETING

RECORDING IS AVAILABLE! Kim Mehalick will present on the many uses of the Snelgrove Board for splitting colonies and raising queen cells without losing your workforce ...

2024 February 14 MEETING

RECORDING IS AVAILABLE... YouTube star KAMON REYNOLDS joins MCBA's meeting to explain the benefits of SINGLE DEEP brood box (hint more honey!) ...

2024 MCBA Keynote Speakers

ALL our meetings for 2024! Get excited and plan ahead ...

2023 July 12th MEETING

RECORDING AVAILABLE! Kamon Reynolds: How to become a successful Sideliner! It's a step up from hobbyist that still helps bees, AND your bank account! ...

CONSIGNMENT RULES and PRICING for the 2023 Montgomery County Agricultural Fair

Consign your honey to be sold at the Montgomery County Ag Fair! Here is how ...

2023 Aug 11 – 19 BEE at the FAIR

No Club Meeting in Aug, so... VOLUNTEER for the FAIR! Take your family for a day of FUN. Enter the county contests for MEAD (new this year!) Honey and Hive Products ...

CLASS RECORDING: Beekeeping 201 Spring Manipulations & OTS Splits

Spring determines your honey harvest for the whole year. Be ready with MCBA's 2-hour PRE-RECORDED Seminar: Beekeeping 201 Spring Management and 202 OTS Queen Rearing / Splits ...

2023 January 11th MEETING

Recording Available... PHIL FRANK! Hive Tour co-author presents bee behavior you cannot see in your field hive, plus tips and tricks to photograph bees, as well as ...

Bees After Hours – Q&A Done Right!

EVERY 4th Wednesday March - Sept Bees After Hours is MCBA’s monthly discussion group geared toward newer beekeepers (0 to 3 years of experience). Two experienced beekeepers will answer timely questions. ...

RECORDED Meetings

Miss a Meeting? View the RECORDING! When speakers permit, we provide links to their recorded presentations. Some links will expire, so don't delay ...

PAST POSTINGS:

2024 March 13 MEETING

Elaine Storm reveals the secret sauce for Honey Wound Care Ointment, Propolis Tincture, Honey Digestive ...

2024 January 10 MEETING

RECORDING AVAILABLE ! -- TWO great presentations: Infrared Thermography and Snelgrove board. Very useful hands-on insights ...

Is Beekeeping Right for You?

View our RECORDED webinar: Beekeeping is a significant commitment of time and money. Before jumping in check out this recording to learn if beekeeping is right for you ...

2023 October 11 MEETING

3 ALL STAR PANELISTS discuss winter beekeeping and answer YOUR questions! LEON VANDENBERG, JIM FRASER, STEVE MCVEIGH on stage all at once! ...

2023 September 13th MEETING

RECORDING AVAILABLE: Jamie Ellis, from the Univ of Florida, will speak about a year in the life of a honey bee colony ...

2023 June 14th MEETING

RECORDING AVAILABLE! SCOTT MCART: Pesticide risk to bees: What we know and what we need to know better ...

2023 May 10th MEETING

3 ALL STAR PANELISTS answer YOUR questions! FRANK LINTON, ANNE FRASER, & TONI BURNHAM on stage all at once! ...

2023 April 12th MEETING

RECORDING NOW AVAILABLE... Dr. Jay Evans on DISEASES: what our bees have, what they are going to get, and what's being done about it ...

2023 March 8th MEETING

RECORDING AVAILABLE... Melanie Kirby! The importance of place, power, and purpose in pollinator conservation ...

2023 February 8th MEETING

Recording Available...MARLA SPIVAK! Status of research to reduce, or eventually eliminate mite treatments ...

2023 December 13 Holiday Party

MCBA Holiday Party! Gift Swap! Food! Mead! Click for time and place. (There is no monthly meeting in December) ...

Tukka’s Medical Fund

DONE! Thanks to all who contributed. We are STILL collecting donations to the Maryland State Apiary Inspectors Fund to support the dogs who sniff-out American Foul Brood disease ...

2022 November 9 MEETING

RECORDING AVAILABLE Learn who won MCBA's Honey Tasting Contest! VOTE for your 2023 Board of Directors, Hear MCBA's guest speaker ...

2022 MCBA T-Shirts !!!!

Done! Thank you everyone. We expect apparel to be available mid November. ...

2022 July 13 MEETING –

RECORDING AVAILABLE! TIPS to WIN county fair contests! Fair Supervisor JIM FRASER reveals all. PLUS Mark Dykes wrestles mites ...

2022 October 12 Meeting

RECORDING AVAIL! Researcher DR. GEOFF WILLIAMS discusses "How a common pesticide can affect your queens and drones" ...

2022 July 13 Meeting

TIPS & TRICKS to WIN county fair contests! Fair Supervisor & Master Beekeeper JIM FRASER reveals all ...

MoCo Ag Fair Honey & Beeswax Contests

Find out if you are a BLUE RIBBON beekeeper! 31 Contest Categories - not just honey and beeswax - provide all of us a chance to strut our stuff. From crafts to candles, honey to wax, photography to ...

2022 September 14 Meeting

RECORDING AVAILABLE -- Researcher GARETT SLATER, PhD Candidate, presents on the importance of breeding better bees. AND how YOU can do it! ...

2022 June 8 MEETING

RECORDING AVAIL NOW! Researcher DR. ZAC LAMAS presents his findings on WHICH bees mites prefer. His would could lead to a more accurate test for mites ...

Hands-on in MCBA’s Apiary

Hands-on mentoring in the MCBA apiary. FREE, but MUST REGISTER and limited space. Learn monitoring and treating for mites, feeding, and ... ...

2022 May 11 MEETING

RECORDING AVAILABLE! International bee expert Dr. Dennis vanEngelsdorp will present his lab's findings on "How to Keep Honey Bee Colonies Alive in Maryland" ...

Spring Timing Guide

SPRING! WHAT to do and WHEN to do it! Check out David Clark's "Spring Calendar" to see his timing strategy, and view his class to see how he does it ...

2022 April 13 MEETING

VIEW the RECORDING! Tips from the Swarm Squad! Preparations, Actions, and Fun Cautionary Tales on catching swarms ...

2021 December Holiday Party

MCBA Holiday Party! Gift Swap! Food! Mead! Click for time and place. (There is no monthly meeting in December) ...

2021 November 10 MEETING

RECORDING of main speakers is AVAILABLE! Learn who won MCBA's Honey Tasting Contest! VOTE for your 2022 Board of Directory, Hear MCBA's guest speaker ...

2022 January 12th MEETING

RECORDING available NOW thru February 17, 2022.... Randy Oliver, the maestro behind ScientificBeekeeping.com, will reveal how bees survive WINTER, and how you can help ...

2022 February 9th MEETING

RECORDING available NOW for approx 30 days. The Indispensable Nuc! Jamie Ellis, from the Univ of Florida, will explain how nucs can help every beekeeper with swarm control, re-queening, ...

2021 October 13 MEETING

RECORDING Available until October 21, 2021 Dr. Medhat Nasr is an award winning bee research scientist developing new mite control treatments. He will present his findings on the varroa killing efficacy of different OXALIC ACID application methods, the timing, and ...

2021 Honey Tasting Contest

Is your honey a winner? Enter MCBA's contest and find out! Submission Deadline: October 12, 2021 ...

2023 Sept 9 BBQ and Potluck

MCBA's Annual Bar-Bee-Que! Bring the family for some great socializing! ...

2021 August – NO MEETING!

BEE AT THE FAIR! August is when MCBA takes bees and beekeeping to the public in a big way. Live bee demonstrations, honey sales, competitions, and an educational booth are special features at the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair. All are facilitated by MCBA volunteers, which is why there is no MCBA monthly in August. Please explore MCBA's homepage for detailed Fair info ...

2021 September 8 MEETING

RECORDING AVAILABLE: Kelly Kulhanek presents her research showing how varroa growth - and treatment - change with the seasons. ...

2021 July 14 MEETING

RECORDING AVAILABLE!! -- HONEY, this is what you need to know! From your legal requirements to MCBA's best practices, you will learn ...

SIGN-UP as a Bee DOCENT at the MoCo Fair

Aug 14-21 VOLUNTEER to answer BEE questions and show off the LIVE BEES in MCBA's demonstration Hive, at the MoCo COUNTY FAIR! ...

SIGN UP to give Live BEE DEMOs at MOCO Fair

Aug 14-21 Wow the crowds! Show your bravery! VOLUNTEER to open bee hives right in front of fair visitors. They are sure to remember how you ...

SIGN-UP to work the Honey Booth at MoCo Fair

Aug 14-21 Volunteer to SELL HONEY at the MoCo COUNTY FAIR! If you want your own honey sold at the fair, you MUST volunteer four hours at one of our booths... ...

2021 MCBA T-Shirts !!!!

ORDER BY JUNE 15! 15 colors! * 3 Shirt styles! * Hoodies! * Sizes YXL to 4XL! ...

2021 June 9 MEETING

RECORDING AVAIL until JULY 11, 2021 Bee Health Specialist ROB SNYDER will help you beat BROOD DISEASES by first ...

2021 May 12 MEETING

VIEW THE RECORDING!: Researcher Pierre Lau will explain his research on Bees' Nutritional Needs, and What Happens If ...

2021 April 14 MEETING

3 Experts answer your questions! This is a great opportunity to solve that frustrating issue that ...

2021 “Beekeeping 201” Seminar

PRE-RECORDED Seminar! Spring determines your honey harvest for the whole year. Be ready with MCBA's 2-hour Seminar -- Beekeeping 201 "Spring Inspection and OTS Queen Rearing and Nuc building ...

2021 March 10 MEETING

RECORDING AVAILABLE: We cannot put face masks on our bees, so how can we protect them from diseases? Veterinarian Tracy Farone will explain BIOSECURITY... ...

2021 February 10 MEETING

Nathalie Steinhauer, PhD of Bee Informed Partnership shows us what beekeeping practices have proven track records in MARYLAND.. ...

2021 January 13 MEETING

RECORDING AVAILABLE - Researcher Zachary Lamas discusses his research breakthroughs, including nano-colony ...

Graduates of Beekeeping 101

Congratulations to the following MCBA members who earned their “Beekeeping 101” Certificates of Completion. ...

2020 December 09 MEETING

Learn to overwinter your bees from an expert who KNOWS winter... Etienne Tardif keeps bees in the YUKON ...

2020 November 11 MEETING

Nov 11 - SWARM ESSENTIALS author Stephen Rapasky unlocks the secrets of ... ...

State Meeting Nov 07

MD STATE CLUB meeting is Nov 07. Hear Keynote Speaker RANDY OLIVER discuss "Understanding Bee Biology" and "Understanding Varroa"... ...

2020 Honey Tasting Contest

Is your honey a winner? Enter MCBA's contest and find out! ...

$How To Use A Honey Refractometer$

How To Use A Honey Refractometer

Sept 26, 2020 IN-PERSON CLASS (free) Learn to use a refractometer and avoid spoiled honey! ...

2020 October 14 MEETING

Researcher ANTHONY NEARMAN explains important physiological clues you can use to monitor the health of your colonies, including ...

2020 September 09 MEETING

Native bee expert SAM DROEGE presents his amazing photography and how we all can ...

2020 August 12 MEETING

New Research and its Impact on YOUR Bees. Elina L. Niño will present findings from her UC Davis Lab: * Factors affecting queen reproduction * Surprising impacts of diet on honey bee health * Development and evaluation strategies for varroacides ...

2020 Hands-on in MCBA’s Apiary

Hands-on mentoring in the MCBA apiary. FREE, but MUST REGISTER and limited space. Learn monitoring and treating for mites, feeding, and ... ...

2020 October – Beekeeping Class for Beginners – ONLINE

This class is FULL. MCBA's next Beekeeping 101 Class will be presented Feb/March, 2021. Registration will open December, 2020. Please watch our homepage and listserv for updates ...

2020 July 08 MEETING

Queen Rearing for the Backyard Beekeeper. Raise your own queens a few at a time! Avoid some common mistakes and misconceptions to get free local queens.... RECORDING AVAILABLE ...

2020 June 10 MEETING

This talk is full of tips and tweaks to help your bees be healthy and productive. We will present results from a 3 year test of best management practices, as gleaned from Bee Informed Partnership surveys ...

2020 May 13 MCBA Meeting

WEBINAR! - Discover beneficial insects found in Maryland. Learn to ID them, and HELP them thrive with landscaping and ...

2020 May 2 – ZOOM MITE TEST

PARTICIPATE in our LIVE hive inspection and mite test! We will be demonstrating how to take a ½ cup of bees for a varroa mite test, and ...

CLASS: Spring Hive Assessment March 21

Sorry. This class is full ...

DEMO: Winter Hive Exam Using Infrared Technology

JANUARY 11! See a THERMAL CAMERA demonstration at the MCBA apiary! Learn how to scan your own ...

Beekeeping Class for Beginners – March 14 & 21

POSTPONED due to Coronavirus precautions. When it is safe again to meet in large groups , we will research potential dates to reschedule the class. We will reach out to all enrolled students when any news is avail ...

2020 EAS Conference Aug 3-7

CANCELLED... Fast track your beekeeping skills & knowledge! EAS 2020 is 5 days packed with seminars, workshops, and fun events - even a lobster bake and... ...

2020 Feb 12 Film Screening!

Screening of HONEYLAND! Winner of 3 Sundance Film Festival Awards, and ...

2020 January 8 Meeting

What restrictions are PESTICIDE MANUFACTURERS trying to change? Come ask the leading pesticide advocacy group how bees and pesticides can ...

2020 March 11 Meeting

Financially SUSTAINABLE Beekeeping. How to make your hobby pay for itself - and then some! Maryland Beekeeper Maggie Mills shows us how ...

2019 Honey Harvest Festival Pictures!

See Pictures of the 2019 Honey Harvest Festival at Brookside Nature Center, and read the names of MCBA volunteers who made it a huge success! ...

Beekeeping Class for Beginners – NOV 2 & 9

WHAT: 3-Day Beginner Beekeeping Class FORMAT: 13 hours of classroom, presented on 2 consecutive Saturdays, PLUS a 3rd day of ...

2019 December Holiday Party

MCBA Holiday Party! Gift Swap! Food! Mead! Click for time and place. (There is no monthly meeting in December) ...

2019 November 13 Meeting

Awards! Elections! Honey Tasting! This is one of our most popular meetings. We will also honor some outstanding volunteers who ...

2020 April 9 MCBA Meeting THURSDAY

WEBINAR! - Don't leave home! LARRY TRUCHON explains his self-sustaining apiary. ...

2019 September 22 Harvest Festival and Honey Sale

MCBA is helping Brookside Nature Center with its Harvest Festival. 4-Hours of fun for the whole family, non-beekeepers, too! Live Demonstrations! ...

President, Maryland State Beekeepers Association

2019 September 11 Meeting

How to BECOME an E.A.S. MASTER BEEKEEPER!! Allen Hayes gives us a roadmap, tips, insights and ...

Bee Biology Class

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 -- Bees bodies are bizarre! How do they make so many useful products, from honey, to wax, to royal jelly, to sting venom. Find out what makes a bee a bee ...

CONSIGNMENT RULES and PRICING for the 2019 Montgomery County Agricultural Fair

Consign your honey to be sold at the Montgomery County Ag Fair! Here is how ...

Extraction Extravaganza

One Honey of a Time! Organized by Patti Wong! Extract your supers with friends June 30, 2019 ...

2019 July 10 Meeting

Univ of MD bee researcher ZAC LAMAS will present "Summer Prep for Winter Success" ...

2019 June 12 Meeting

KIRSTEN TRAYNOR, expert beekeeper and author, will present will present HALTING THE UNSTOPPABLE SWARM ...

2019 May 08

Stop being a bee-buyer. Raise your own queens and nucs without special equipment. David Clark will give step-by-step instructions to use the OTS (On The Spot) queen rearing method, but with an important update. ...

2019 April 10

When non-beekeepers ask what they can do to help bees, you'll have a ready-made answer if you attend this meeting! Guest speaker Lisa Kuder will share her research on how to increase pollinator habitat, both at home, and on the road(side). The volume and ...