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Greetings from the President of the IHPA

Dear Honey Producers,

I hope everyone has had a successful time installing packages, splitting colonies, re-queening hives or obtaining nucs for the busy summer season. Remember as you place colonies in their designated yards to register their location. If you need help, contact Andy Joseph, the Iowa State Apiarist at (515) 326-5765. The numbers of registered colonies, producers and bees are up this year. You may register locations at any time if you need to relocate hives. The locations being updated will be included in the registry site for chemical applicators. As they access the site, they will notice the additional listings and will have them for reference when applying insecticides. We can only accomplish great things for the beekeeping industry when we all work together to improve situations. This is a step forward for all beekeepers.

Consider talking to the local chemical applicators in your area to work with them this summer. The more communication between applicators and beekeepers, the better the situation is going to turn out. Just have a friendly conversation, answer any questions about bees or beekeeping and remember not all people know the issues facing beekeepers or even the facts about how honey bees collect nectar and pollen. Try some old fashioned conversation and go with an open mind. Express an interest in working together. Who knows, maybe something good will come out of the situation.

Don’t forget to get honey supers on colonies to allow the honey bees more room to work. The orchard bloom in our area was beautiful and plentiful. There was concern with the huge crop last year that there might not be as many apples this year. We certainly hope that the crop continues to develop and we will be blessed with another great fruit crop in the state of Iowa. Honey bees are definitely bringing in nectar and pollen around here.

The Iowa State Fair is quickly approaching. The premium books for apiary entries are available on-line at iowastatefair.org. If you are thinking about entering items at the state fair or are just curious about the prospects of doing so, please attend the IHPA field day being held on June 13^th at Connie and Curt Bronnenberg’s Spring Valley Honey Farms near Perry. For further information contact Pat Ennis or look at the article in the BUZZ. It is much more impressive to the public if our shelves and display areas are full for their viewing.

Don’t forget to get bids turned in to supply honey and/or beeswax products for the sales booth. Please send your bids to John Johnson by June 30^th. Locate the bid sheet included in this BUZZ issue.

We also need workers to continue our great success at the Iowa State Fair in the IHPA sales booth. Please consider working. We need approximately 20 people per day for the eleven days, August 13-23. Let me know if you could work. The IHPA makes most of the operating money for the many programs conducted throughout the year at the Iowa State Fair. I will send you tickets to get into the fair for working. Come join us for a honey of a time.

The IHPA is expanding the educational talks given in the Knapp Animal Learning Center during the state fair. There will be two talks given daily during the entire state fair. If you would like to help with these, let me know. They will be given at 2 p.m. and again at 6 p.m. Last year Andy Joseph, Phil Ebert and Pat Ennis prepared a power point presentation that was used by all members giving the talk. This will be done again this year to make sure that all of the presentations are alike. We will coordinate the volunteers and tickets will be provided to you.

Congratulations to all the graduates this spring. Our daughter-in-law, Abbie, graduated from college on May 8^th. One of our nieces, Janessa, graduated from CAM High School on May 17^th. I know at least one of the past youth program participants served honey lemonade at his graduation party. Best wishes in your future endeavors.

Remember the June events of Flag Day, Father’s Day, and summer officially begins. We have several June birthdays in the family. We will get to attend our annual event at the Lincoln horse races to celebrate my Father’s birthday. Son, Mitch, will celebrate his birthday in Iraq again this year.

Bee cheerful! Bee happy! Enjoy the warm nectar producing weather to come.

Sincerely,

Donna Brahms, IHPA President

GRANDMA'S HONEY COOKIES

Printed from COOKS.COM

1 c. honey
1 c. sugar
1 c. shortening
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. hot water
2 scant tsp. soda
Enough flour to make stiff dough
Raisins or chocolate chips

Mix ingredients as listed. Put enough flour in to make stiff dough. This recipe can either be rolled or dropped. If you use it for drop cookie, use less flour. Bake at 375 degrees for 7-8 minutes. Put on ungreased pan.