Chipley buzzing with 2025 Panhandle Bee Conference
WASHINGTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – There are about 5000 beekeepers in the state of Florida, managing around 750,000 bee colonies. The bees benefit not only the environment but the economy as well.
'Honeybees specifically are very important for specialty crops and pollination purposes in our nation. So, without bees, there would not be a lot of the fruits, vegetables, and nuts that you see at the grocery store. And we have our beekeepers to thank for that,' UF/IFAS State Specialized Extension Agent Amy Vu said.
'Everything they do helps everything else in the environment. You know, the pollination services, the honey creation, the wax, I mean, literally every aspect of their life is beneficial to people and the ecosystem,' AA Live Bee Removal Owner Emil Albrecht said.
Whether beekeeping is your hobby, your business, or just a venture you're thinking about exploring, the Panhandle Bee Conference is for you.
Bay County candidates discuss city's future at First Friday
'We can either help somebody who hasn't even started beekeeping yet, or who have some intermediate or advanced skills. So we really wanted to make it welcoming to anybody at any level,' UF/IFAS Horticulture & Regional Specialized Agent Julie McConnell said.
Those in attendance were able to listen to expert speakers, take classes, and receive a live hive demonstration where they could spot the queen bee.
Danny Bost attended the event in 2019 with the idea of getting into beekeeping. Now, he's the president of the Central Panhandle Beekeepers Association.
'Beekeeper needs the right tools to be able to do what they do successfully. If not, then the only thing they're going to do is they're going to get frustrated,' Central Panhandle Beekeepers Association President Danny Bost said.
Bost now shares those tools with the beekeeping community.
'The number of beekeepers that we have in Florida is constantly growing. So, any time that you increase the number of bees, you also increase the amount of honey that comes in. Honey isn't doing nothing but going up in value,' Bost said.
Remember, it is springtime, and the professional pollinators are out and about.
'The bees are getting really excited. It's starting to warm up outside. And so as flowers start to bloom, those bees are foraging and looking for the resources out there so that they can be productive in their own homes,' Vu said.
'Bonded by Blue' event raises awareness for Child Abuse Prevention month
'This is something not to be scared of. They're docile during this time period. And if you do see that and you don't want the bees and the surrounding area, call a beekeeper; they'll come and get them for you,' Bost added.
The second day of the conference starts Saturday at 9:00 a.m. You can buy tickets at the door until 10:30.
To learn more about honey bees click here, if you need them removed from your home, click here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Yahoo
Bay County Chamber of Commerce hosting annual Hurricane Preparedness Seminar
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) – As hurricane season approaches, the Bay County Chamber of Commerce is taking action to ensure the community is ready. The 2025 Hurricane Preparedness Seminar will take place Friday, June 6, at FSU Panama City. The seminar will begin at 10:30 a.m. and will be open to the community. Admission is $20 per person with lunch included. The annual event has become an essential resource for individuals and businesses seeking to prepare and recover from the impacts of a hurricane. June 1 marks the start of the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane season According to a news release, with an overwhelming number of attendees last year, the chamber is once again bringing together top-tier experts to educate and inform. The featured speakers will include Chief Matthew Lindewirth, Sheriff Tommy Ford, Chief Meteorologist Chris Smith, and Sheryl Parker. This year's seminar will cover: 2025 Hurricane season predictions, insurance coverage guidance, home & business preparedness, business continuity planning, available community resources before and after a storm, and more. 'Our goal is to help our residents and business community stay safe and resilient,' Director of Foundation at the Bay County Chamber Lisa Moore said. The Chamber has decided to add vendor spaces this year. It will offer local businesses an opportunity to showcase services that support storm preparation and recovery. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Dominion Post
2 days ago
- Dominion Post
Not your average lab: Retail project opening on High Street
MORGANTOWN — A new store blending fashion, education and community held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday on High Street, just in time for the doors to open for First Friday. The Retail Lab is the creation of Elizabeth Shorrock, a West Virginia University fashion design and merchandising professor. The space is more than a storefront, as it also is a place for hands-on learning. WVU students are given the opportunity to have real-world experience in the world of fashion. 'This is a lab for our fashion and WVU classes,' said Shorrock, who led the two-year effort to bring the space to life. 'Students can see the entire process, from visual merchandising and community engagement to the research behind fashion and working directly with customers.' Inspired by a concept shared by a student who studies abroad in Italy, The Retail Lab follows a system that combines a luxury resale store in the front and an educational space in the back. The store will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and will feature high-quality consignment fashion, workshops, artist talks and rotating exhibits by students and local creators. Shorrock emphasized that the store will not accept fast fashion items. 'We do not take any fast fashion clothing,' she said. 'We pick through everything; we want good-quality clothing.' This space is an example where community meets campus. All items in the store are consigned, with the highest commission rates reserved for current fashion students. But the Retail Lab also accepts consignments from alumni and local residents. Daphne Carroll, who graduated from WVU's fashion program in 2024, now serves as store manager. 'It's exciting to be part of something that connects students to Morgantown in a meaningful way,' Carroll said. 'I think there's a disconnect sometimes, and this space helps bridge that gap.' In addition to retail operation, the store space will serve multiple purposes for the community. A career closet is available for all WVU and community members to borrow professional clothing for interviews, headshots, and events. Future plans also in the talks of launching a rental program. This could be used for special occasions such as sorority events, prom, and even banquets. The Retail Lab will also host community workshops, artist lectures and classes for the public. The space can be rented for private events or entrepreneur projects. The store reflects WVU's broader effort to provide students with accessible, practical resources while also engaging the local community. 'Our students have access to so many amazing resources,' Shorrock said. 'Retail Lab ensures they continue to use them post graduation and also gives the community a chance to benefit from those same tools.' The Retail Lab is located on High Street in downtown Morgantown and welcomes shoppers, consignors, and community collaborators beginning this Friday with a grand opening in September.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Walton County TDC pulls support for local PGA golf event
WALTON COUNTY, Fla (WMBB) – The idea of a PGA tournament in Walton County is on shaky ground. The county's Tourist Development Council backed it in April. But now, TDC board members say the price tag is too steep. PGA Officials originally proposed a five-year title sponsorship agreement starting at $6 million, with a 5% escalator each year. The total cost would be roughly $35 million. Walton County considers $35 million investment for 2026 PGA tournament 'You know, $30 plus million is, you know, very much a large amount of money to to dedicate to anything, you know, whether it's a PGA Tour, whether it's, you know, concerts, whatever that may be, you know, that's just a lot of money,' Walton County Tourism Director Matt Algarin said. PGA representative Charles Hamrick told commissioners the county would receive promotional ads and extensive media coverage that could mean millions for Walton County's tourism industry. Commissioners asked the TDC to look for sponsors to help underwrite the county's costs. They also asked Hamrick to explore a shorter contract to lower costs. The PGA agreed to shorten the contract, but won't negotiate the price. TDC board members unanimously voted to withdraw their support. Walton County's TDC looks to reinstate executive director 'This year, we've seen almost a 10% decrease in tourist development taxes. I'm concerned and the council is concerned about having to be required to spend $6 million plus over the next couple of years without really understanding what we have in the reserves, should a catastrophic storm occur, and being able to rebuild our community,' TDC Treasurer Tiffany Edwards said. TDC board members will meet with commissioners to explain their recommendation against the tournament. The final decision will be in the hands of county commissioners It will take four of the five commissioners to add the golf tournament to the Tourist Development Plan. The tournament is on the June 23rd commission meeting agenda. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
