EVENTS AND PROGRAMS

FEBRUARY 6th -FEBRRUARY 17th, 2025 

The FSBA, needs your help. The FSBA. has had a booth at the Florida State Fair for many years.  The purpose of the booth is to educate the public about beekeeping, the beekeeping industry, and the sales of honey is a major fundraiser for the FSBA. Our booth is inside the Agricultural Hall of Fame building, which is near Gate 3 at the fairgrounds.

The FSBA booth at the Florida State Fair will have honey tasting, a live honeybee observation hive, educational material for the public and we will be answering all of the questions about honey bees the public might have.  We will be selling bottled Florida honey.  Some of the Honey varieties that we have for sale this year are Gallberry, Palmetto, Wildflower, and Tupelo. 

The 2025 Florida State Fair is daily and runs from Thursday, February 6th through Monday, February 17th.  The Fair is held at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, Florida.  Volunteers will receive a free entry ticket for the day that they volunteer. After or before your “shift” you can explore the fair!  Parking at the fairground is free.  The fair is eleven days long so we need LOTS of volunteers.

Volunteers are asked to sign up for a morning or afternoon shift, which are about four hours long.  We would like 3-4 people in the booth each shift and there will be someone to explain what to do there.  People may sign up for one or multiple shifts. Feel free to sign up with friends or with other Bee Club members to add to the fun. On the sign-up sheet, the start and end times are listed for each block. 

SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER BELOW: 

The 2025 Annual Meeting & Conference will be held at the Osceola County UF/IFAS Extension Complex, 1921 Kissimmee Valley Lane, Kissimmee, FL 34744.  

We are working on a great lineup of speakers for the Florida Backyard and Commercial beekeepers.  No matter your interest there will be something new for you!   Back by popular demand will be the "Bobcat Derby". 

More details to follow soon! 

If you are interested in being a sponsor or vendor for the 2025 conference email your request to: floridabeekeepers@gmail.com  

2024 FSBA ANNUAL MEETING/CONVENTION/CONFERENCE

was October 3rd - 5th, 2024 in OCALA, FLORIDA.  

- Oct 3rd, UF Beelab tour in Gainesville & Welcome reception at hotel

- Oct 4th & 5th Conference & Annual Meeting

Location was Ocala Hilton Hotel & Conference Center, 3600 Southwest 36th Ave, Ocala, FL 34474

Featured Speakers

• Dr. Jamie Ellis, UF
• Dr. Cameron Jack, UF
• Amy Vu, UF
• Kamon Reynolds
• Michael Bush
• Tucka Saville
• Teddy Miska      
• Medhat Nasr
• Diane Spoden
• David Westervelt
• Bo Sterk
• James Fulton - FDACS Honey Bee Diagnostic Lab
• Georgia Department of Agriculture David Williams
• Chris Alanso
• Billy Fussell
• Dr. Lena Barascou
• Kimberly & David Lott
• David Mendes
• Tina O'Brien
• Dr. Bob Porter
• Jim O'Brien

Most products from the hive or beekeeping DIY could find a home (and a ribbon!) in the 2024 FSBA Honey Show! 

Samples WERE accepted:  Thursday, October 3rd, from 3:00 PM until 5:00 PM; and Friday, October 4th, from 7:30 AM until 10:00 AM.

For a complete set of rules and information for your entries (and available categories) follow the link below, FOR FYI ONLY, THE RULES FOR 2025 SHOULD BE SIMILAR.

The study has been published. Please click here to access the UF page regarding the study results!

2023 FSBA ANNUAL MEETING/CONVENTION
was held from October 13 & 14 2023.  We had a welcome reception from 6-9 pm the evening of the 12th at the host hotel.  

Location:   UF/IFAS Extension Facility, Orange County FL

It was a great success and the speakers, vendors, beekeepers, sponsors and volunteers made it an event to remember.  

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO SUPPORTED THE 2023 CONFERENCE!