Record Number of Beekeeping Schools Scheduled for 2018
36 beginner and advanced beekeeping courses to be held across the state
DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship today encouraged Iowans interested in beekeeping to consider enrolling in one of the beekeeping schools that will be held around the state again in 2018. There are a record number of 36 courses that will be held across the state for both the beginner and advanced bee keeper.
“Interest in beekeeping continues to grow and these courses are a great opportunity for new beekeepers or those who are interested in getting started to learn from experienced Iowa beekeepers who understand how to successfully raise bees in our state,” said Mike Naig, Iowa Deputy Secretary of Agriculture.
Early enrollment for many of these courses is important so courses can meet minimum enrollment numbers. Fees will vary by location. For more information, please refer to the IHPA website and online monthly newsletter at www.abuzzaboutbees.com or contact Andrew Joseph, State Apiarist with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, at (515) 725-1481 or andrew.joseph@iowaagriculture.gov.
Please note that not all of these courses are sponsored by the Iowa Honey Producers Association, and the information presented by the instructors is not necessarily endorsed by the IHPA. Additionally, none of the courses are sponsored by the Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship and the information presented by the instructors is not necessarily endorsed by the Department.
There are currently about 4,500 beekeepers in Iowa that manage more than 45,000 colonies of honey bees. These honey bees produce about 4 million pounds of honey annually, valued at over $8 million. Honey bees are also responsible for the pollination of many Iowa crops. Field and horticultural crops, home gardens and plants eaten by wildlife are dependent on bee pollination for the production of their fruits, nuts and seeds. The economic value of honey bees as crop pollinators in Iowa has been estimated at $92 million annually.
A list of 2018 course locations and details follows here:
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City& |
Start Date |
Course |
Meeting |
Contact to |
Fee |
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Ankeny Beginning 6-8 pm |
Jan. 25 - |
Thursday |
Iowa Lab |
Andrew Joseph: |
$35 |
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Albia 6:30 – |
Jan 30 – March 20 |
Tuesday evening for 8 weeks |
Monroe Co. Extension Office |
Sheila Weldon: 641-891-2268 or |
$45 household includes a book, handouts & field day |
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Calmar Beginning Beekeeping 6-9pm |
Jan 30 – March 6 |
Tuesday evenings for 6 weeks |
1625 Hwy |
NICC Continuing Education: 563-557-8271, ext. 380 Instructor: |
$35 |
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Cedar Rapids Beginning Beekeeping 6-9pm |
Jan. 12 – |
4 lecture dates and 3 field days throughout the year |
Indian Creek Nature Center 5300 Otis Rd SE |
319-362-0664 or |
Member: Non- |
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Council Class info for |
April-May |
Saturday mornings for 3 weeks |
IA Western Comm. College |
712-325-3252 (Holly) |
$59 |
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Davenport 6-8 pm |
Feb. 22 – Mar. 29 |
Thursday Evenings for 6 weeks |
Nahant Marsh Education Center |
563-441-4100 S Wapello Ave Instructor: Phil Crandall |
$95 / includes text book |
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Des Moines Beginning 7-9pm |
Jan 23 & 30 |
Tuesday |
Des Moines |
http://commed.dmschools.org/programs/adults/ Instructor: Julia McGuire |
$60 per |
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student+ |
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Book $10 |
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Des Moines |
Jan 25 |
Thursday |
Des Moines |
http://commed.dmschools.org/programs/adults/ Instructor: Julia McGuire |
$60 per |
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Feb 1, 15, |
evenings |
Community Ed, |
Student + |
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Beginning |
22 |
for 6 |
Merrill Middle |
Book $10 |
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Beekeeping |
March 1 & |
weeks |
School118 |
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8 |
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5301 Grand Ave |
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7-9 pm |
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Des Moines Advanced 7-9 pm |
Jan 24, 31 |
Wed |
Des Moines |
http://commed.dmschools.org/programs/adults/ Instructor: Julia McGuire |
$60 |
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Dubuque Beginning |
Jan 30 – March 6 |
Tuesday |
Dubuque |
NICC Continuing Education : 563-557-8271, ext. 380 |
$35 |
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Beekeeping 6-9 pm |
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weeks |
Town Clock Business Center |
Instructor: |
Class via live podcast |
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Fairfield Beginning Beekeeping 6-8 pm |
March |
Thursday evenings for 4 |
Jefferson County Extension |
Coleen: 641-472-4166 Instructor : Vern Ramsey & Joy |
$5.00 |
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Fort Dodge Beginning Beekeeping 9 am -12 noon |
Jan 13th – Feb. 3rd |
Saturday mornings for 4 weeks |
Webster County ISU Extension Office in Fort Dodge |
Yvonne: 515-835 -9326 or e-mail Yvonne@iastate.edu Instructor: Roy Kraft |
Single $40 / Family $50 |
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Fort Dodge Advanced Class 1-4pm |
Feb. 3rd |
Saturday afternoon |
Webster County ISU Extension Office in Fort Dodge |
Yvonne: 515-835 -9326 or e-mail Yvonne@iastate.edu |
Single $35 / Family $45 |
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Instructor: Roy Kraft |
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Fredericks- 9 am - 3 pm |
January 20th & 27th Class size |
Saturdays Bring sack |
3025 270th St |
Mary Wiltgen: 563-920-9628 or |
$50 |
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Indianola (FBI Club) 6:30 - 8:30 pm |
Jan 25 - |
Thursday evenings for 8 weeks |
Calvary Baptist Church |
Judy Spence: 515-988-8397 Jespencejr44@gmail.com Instructors: Doyle Kincy & |
Class free- |
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Iowa Falls 5:30 - 8:00 pm |
Jan 23rd – Feb 20th Feb 27 |
Tuesday |
Iowa Falls |
Rachael Koehler: 1-800-284-4823 or 641-752-4645 Instructor: Pat Ennis |
$49 |
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Keosauqua Beginning Beekeeping 6:00- |
Start in March |
Monday evenings for 4 weeks |
Roberts Bldg - with cooperation with Van Buren County |
To register: 319-293-3039 Instructor: Vern Ramsey & Joy Westercamp |
$5.00 |
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Knoxville Beginning Beekeeping 6:30-8 pm |
Jan. 25th – March 15th |
Thursday evenings for weeks |
Marion County Extension Office |
Jerry Weldon: 641-842-5888 or |
$45 household includes a book, handouts & field day |
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Marshall- town Beginning Beekeeping 7-9 pm |
Jan. 24th – Feb. 28th |
Wed. evenings for 6 weeks |
Iowa Valley Community College |
Rachael Koehler: 800-284-4823 or 641-752-4645 |
$49 |
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Instructor: Phil Ebert |
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Mason City Beginning |
Feb. 3rd – Feb. 24th |
Saturday mornings |
North Iowa Area |
NIACC Continuing Education: 641-422-4358 Instructor: Pat Ennis |
$49 |
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Mt Pleasant Beginning Beekeeping 6-9pm |
Feb 1, 8, 22 & Mar. 1 |
Thursday evenings for 4 weeks |
Iowa State University Extension/Henry Co/ Extension Office |
Henry Co Extension Instructors: Dave and Ray Tull |
Individual |
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Newton Beekeeping |
January 23 |
Tuesday evening |
ISU Extension & Outreach Jasper Co. |
John Krzton-Presson Instructor: Zack Koopman |
$10 |
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Okoboji |
Feb. 10 & 11 snow dates: Feb 24 & 25 |
Saturday: Sunday: |
Dickinson County Nature Center |
nwiabeekeepersclubresearch@gmail.com or 507-227-5919 Instructors: Northwest Iowa Beekeepers Association |
$75.00 |
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Okoboji Intro. to Beekeeping Practicum |
May 6 Rain date: May 13 |
Sunday Afternoon |
Dickinson County Nature Center |
nwiabeekeepersclubresearch@gmail.com or 507-227-5919 Instructors: Northwest Iowa Beekeepers Association |
$75.00 |
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Okoboji Intermediate & Advanced beekeeper education |
TBD |
TBD |
Dickinson County Nature Center |
nwiabeekeepersclubresearch@gmail.com or 507-227-5919 Instructors: Northwest Iowa Beekeepers Association |
TBD |
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Oskaloosa Beginning 6:00-8 pm |
Jan 19 – March 16 |
Friday |
Iowa State University Extension Office/ Mahaska County |
Tina/Jim Marshall: 641-660-0983 Instructors: Jim & Tina Marshall |
$45 |
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Ottumwa |
Jan 16 – |
Tuesday |
ISU Extension Office |
Jen Daugherty: 641-682-5491 Instructor: Craig Greene |
$45 |
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Peosta Beginning Beekeeping 6-9pm |
Jan 25 – March 1 |
Thursday evening for 6 weeks |
Northeast Iowa Community College |
NICC Continuing Education: |
$35 |
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Polk City Beginning 9-11 am |
Feb 10, 17, |
Saturday |
Cherry Glen |
Ray Meylor: 515-450-1207 or 3989 NW 94th Ave Polk city, IA 50226 |
$10 a class, |
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Sioux Center Beginning |
February 1, 8, 15 & 22 |
Thursday |
Sioux City |
To register: 712-722-6275 Instructor: Duane H Bajema Ph.D |
$70 |
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Toddville Beginning 7-9 pm |
Jan. 22 |
Mondays |
Wickiup Hill Learning Center Linn County Conservation |
www.beeapartbeetogether.com Questions: 319 -7 21-3493 or honeybeeclasses@gmail.com Instructors: Master Beekeepers Shane Bixby: Dist. 2 Director |
See website |
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Toddville Beginning 6-9 pm |
Jan. 19 |
Friday |
Wickiup Hill Learning Center Linn County Conservation |
www.beeapartbeetogether.com Questions: 319 -7 21-3493 or honeybeeclasses@gmail.com Instructors: Master Beekeepers Shane Bixby: Dist. 2 Director |
See website |
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Toddville Advanced 9 am – 3 pm |
March 3 & 4 |
Saturday |
Wickiup Hill Learning Center Linn County Conservation |
www.beeapartbeetogether.com Questions: 319 -7 21-3493 or honeybeeclasses@gmail.com Instructors: Master Beekeepers Shane Bixby: Dist. 2 Director |
$75 |
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Toddville Queen 9-3pm |
June 23 & 24 |
Saturday |
Wickiup Hill Learning Center Linn County Conservation |
www.beeapartbeetogether.com Questions: 319 -7 21-3493 or honeybeeclasses@gmail.com Instructors: Master Beekeepers Shane Bixby: Dist. 2 Director |
$75 |
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Washington Beginning Beekeeping 6-8:30 pm |
Feb 5- |
Monday evenings for 4 weeks |
Kirkwood Comm. |
319-653-4655 Instructor: |
Class -$39 / |
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Waterloo Beginning Beekeeping 6:30 - 8:30 pm |
Jan 10- |
Wed evenings for 8 sessions |
Hawkeye Community College, main campus - Buchanan Hall, Room 108 |
319-296-4290 Instructor: Kenn Wandschneider |
$149.00 |