Forsyth County Beekeepers Association
This month we will be featuring an "Ask a Beekeeper" panel with Dr. Larry Audet, Heath Wind, Jeff Gardner, and Darrell Hampton. Combined, our expert panel have been beekeeping for over 88 years! Expect a wide range of practical advice, opinions, and specifics on the topics and questions you need from local beekeepers who have seen it all. Please submit your questions for the panel to Alicia McDuffee at honeybeebuzz86@gmail.com & read the bios of our panel below!
If you plan to come for the Potluck please Click here to sign up for food.
Dr. Larry Audet caught his first swarm in the southern Oregon mountains in 1981 and has kept bees since that time. Larry has kept bees in Oregon, Michigan, California, and North Carolina. He naturally wants to learn from and mentor others. He has worked in education for most of his adult life as a: teacher, school administrator, researcher, and policy developer for the Ministry of Education in the United Arab Emirates. His research interests include creativity and leadership. Larry builds much of his own equipment in his woodshop. He and his wife recently moved from Dubai to North Carolina in 2019. One of his favorite activities is attending meetings with our club members. He currently serves as Bee School Chair for FCBA.
Heath Wind is a second-generation hobbyist beekeeper. Raised in Upstate New York, Heath moved to North Carolina in the 80's. He joined the FCBA in 2011 after attending bee school and has been an active member since then. Heath earned his certification as a Journeyman Beekeeper from the NCSBA and has passed the Master exam although he still has to complete his service hours. Heath moves colonies to the mountains each year for the sourwood flow. He winters about twelve colonies with a near 100% survival rate. Heath attributes his high winter survival to three basic things: Young, well-mated queens in summer, low mite levels in August, adequate honey stores
Darryll Hampton has been beekeeping for 35 years and is the owner of BeeAttitudes Bee Supply. He also is the Pastor of Union Gospel Baptist Church. In his past life he was an Irrigation Technician for the town of Jamestown. He also served 2 terms as FCBA President. He currently has an Honary Lifetime Membership with the Association.
Jeff is a hobbyist beekeeper in Winston-Salem. He has been hosting Italians and homegrown mutts in his backyard operation since 2013. His favorite part of beekeeping is watching the secret life of bees and sharing the adventure with his family and friends.
