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Iowa Honey Queen - February

Happy Spring! The Month of February has been very busy on the farm, We started lambing and kidding the first week of February, Some nights the hours were a little short, but that’s ok as long as the babies are alright. My goat Piper gave us quads, however number two and three were backwards and died. It was a big disappointment, because we have never had quads kids. We have had several sheep sets of quads but never goats. There is nothing better than new babies frolicking around to get us excited about spring!!

I decided to purchase my 4-H show birds this year instead of incubating them. I found some White and Splash Silkies that I really liked, I will probably incubate the duck and geese eggs in the spring. The raccoons seem to destroy the nest when they are about three days from hatching, Its pretty cool to incubate because the first thing the ducks and geese see they consider their mother so they follow me all around the farm when I am doing chores!!!

We had a nice week of 40's and the bees were pretty active, We lost one hive at Ponca, but the rest look really good, I can taste the new honey already!!

I was confirmed at St Mary's in Danbury on Feb 22, 2009 for my confirmation name, I choose Saint Ambrose. He was a great soldier, but also he is the Patron of saints Beekeepers. the Bishop was curious why I choose him, so I told him I had hives and I am the 2009 Iowa Honey Queen!!

The Battle Creek-Ida Grove Basketball for the boys and girls ended in the last game before state. It was terrible disappointment as the boys lost by 4 and then we lost by seven. For us girls it was extra disappointment as the same team that beat us last year beat us this year. I still have to look forward to 2010!!!

I ended this month with a trip to Pat and Peggy Ennis's at Mason City to attend a Beekeeping workshop. We had a great time and I even got to help do chores!

I will be in Early on Friday, March 13, to talk to School kids. On Friday, March 20, I am doing a 4-H workshop at 7pm at the Ida County Extension office and I will be in Spencer on Saturday, March 21st, to help the Larry Boernsen family with a Beekeeping workshop.

Remember to spring forward on Sunday March 8th at 12:01 for Daylight Savings time. SPRING IS ALMOST HERE!!!

Iowa Honey Queen - March

Spring has finally arrived and I love the sweet smell of the rain and wet dirt! My Dad is ready to plant his tomatoes; he started from seed, so he can have a tomato and peanut butter sandwich!!

Our weather has been very nice and we were able to turn all the moms and babies outside. The lambs and kids had never been out, so they ran and frolicked till their Mom's were exhausted from chasing them! Of course, I had my camera ready, because I always get great pictures for my 4-H Record Book and also to enter them in photography at the fair.

The bees have also enjoyed the nice weather. We are feeding three of our hives and the rest seem to be doing well. Cecelia, my mentor, said we will probably be splitting quite a few hives the end of April first of May, if the weather cooperates.

I started out the month when I traveled with my mentor, Cecelia, to the Kansas-Missouri Beekeeping Convention in Overland Park, Kansas. On Friday, we went to three different schools and four classrooms with the Missouri Honey Queen Tara and our American Honey Queen Diane. I really enjoyed visiting with the teachers and children about bees. On Friday night, we went to the Banquet and afterwards hung out with Diane. On Saturday, I helped sell raffle tickets and met many beekeepers. We enjoyed the speakers and learned about new ideas and products.

Cecelia and I were invited to go to a Bee yard, to help with the Bees returning from the Almond fields of California. We thought it would be fun and interesting, but it would not fit into our schedules. Maybe next year!!

On Friday, March 13, I went in early to talk to a group of 42 Homeschoolers and their parents. We really had a good time and they had some very good questions. I even have two young ladies that are interested in applying for the Youth Beekeeping Program. I told them I would be glad to help them get started. Afterwards, we enjoyed lunch and served Honey sandwiches and then played Basketball!!

My 4-H activities kept me busy also this month. I helped with the Ida County Kid Fest, when I helped officer's Vince and Chris show parents how to put their children in car seats properly. We were able to give away several new car seats to parents that had outdated ones. They really appreciated knowing their kids were safe.

My 4-H club, the Maple Huskies, won a swim party, through our Ida County 4-H Foundation, to King's Point in Storm Lake. We made it a family day with lunch at Pizza Hut and then on to the Water Park. It was Awesome! It is a great place for family and friends to get together for a day or weekend. We would all love a return trip!

I will end the month with a 4-H Beekeeping workshop on Friday, March 20, at the Ida County Extension office at 7pm. then on Saturday, March 21, Mom and I will travel to Spencer to help with a Beekeeping class with the Larry Boernsen Family. On Thursday, April 2, I will be at a "Friends of the Library" luncheon at the Holstein Library. On Tuesday, April 7, I will be at the Ida County Farm Bureau Farm Safety Days.

I wish you all a Happy Easter and I hope the Easter Bunny brings you lots of candy!!!

2009 Iowa Honey Queen
Shiliah Spaulding