GCBA 4-H

Our Commitment to 4-H

The Greene County Beekeepers Association has sponsored the Greene County 4-H Beekeeping Project since 2011. We provide:

• Scholarships

• Education

• Mentoring

• Club Membership to 4-H beekeepers

• and Fair Award

Our 4-H beekeepers are offered a complementary GCBA membership for the first year. They and their families and the 4-H club leader are all welcomed and encouraged to attend our monthly meetings. There is much information available to you from professional beekeepers and speakers.

Educational opportunities to 4-H clubs and 4-H individuals are available through our Youth program and Mentoring Program.

The GCBA provides an equipment award of a smoker to the 4-H Beekeeping Project 1st place winner in the Senior Division. We also award each member who completes the project a commemorative hive tool.

4-H Scholarship Award:

The GCBA also sponsors selected individual 4-H members by donating some equipment to help budding beekeepers get started with bees. The selected member(s) typically receives 1 basic hive setup upon confirmation that they have purchased or otherwise acquired a colony of bees to populate their new hive. The hive consists of four 8-frame medium depth boxes with frames and foundation, an IPM bottom board with entrance reducer, a queen excluder, and an inner cover and telescoping top cover.The equipment comes unassembled and your mentor will show you what to do. Your hive must be ready prior to the arrival of your bees.

GCBA 4-H Sponsorship guidelines:

The Greene County Beekeepers Association will selectively sponsor Greene County 4-H members by donating a basic hive setup.

Conditions of this donation

(a) We limit one hive donation per individual over the entire 4-H project lifetime/cycle. Depending on the number enrolled in the beekeeping project(641). We may restrict this to one hive donation per family in a calendar year.

(b) Bees must be ordered/coordinated through GCBA approved source no later than April 1st (estimated cost $100-$130, subject to package availability).

(c) The member must comply with all local and State legal requirements. Ohio Apiary registration fee: $5 (click for form)

(d) The member must complete the project (i.e., 4-H judged at the Greene County Fair).

(e) The 4-H member must attend either the September or October meeting of the GCBA. The member should be prepared to tell the club 1 thing they learned from their project.

(f) If the 4-H member decides not to continue as a beekeeper, they agree to return the hive to GCBA or donate it to another GCBA approved 4-H member who wishes to assume the project/responsibility.

(g) The 4-H member is responsible for obtaining their own protective apparel and other equipment related to the project.

To assist new 4-H beekeepers with determining their equipment needs, here is a list of suggested supplies/equipment:

Beekeeping Project and Record Book #641 — $10.00

Protective apparel and basic equipment:

Hat – ($10-$20)

Veil – ($21-$36)

Gloves – ($15-$28)

Hive Tool – ($10-$12)

Smoker – ($35-$50)

Book – “The New Starting Right with Bees” by Kim Flottum; Kathy Summers-($12)

Bee suit or jacket – ($75-$120)

Syrup feeder ($8-$16)

Complete Hive:

NOTE: For beginning beekeepers who have no existing hives, consider using 8-frame hives, medium depth, instead of the traditional 10-frame. The 8-frame equipment is lighter and easier to manage, particularly for youth and smaller-frame individuals.

Basic Hive Kit, medium boxes (total 4), 8 frame — $250 to $300 (includes bottom board, entrance reducer, medium super, frames/foundation, inner cover, outer cover)

Package of bees w queen – $130-$150

You can find sources for these supplies on the GCBA Equipment & Supplies Page.

Questions? Contact Cynthia Olsen, 4-H Coordinator using the “Contact Us” page.

Any 4-H member interested in beekeeping is encouraged to Contact Us or message via Facebookto help us determine the number of interested youth and for any additional details or suggestions.