The Buzz Newsletter

November 2004

 

 

Page 2

The Iowa Honey Producers wishes to extend condolences to the family of Eric Dahms, who passed away October 5, 2004 following an accident. Eric Christopher Dahms was 31 years old and a seaman aboard the USS Donald Cook(DDG-75) in Norfolk, Virginia. He was an organ donor. Services were October 11th in Marion, Ia. Eric's father, Terry, is president of the East Central Beekeepers.

 

Iowa State Fair Apiary Dept. Superintendent

The Iowa Honey Producers is looking for someone to take over as Exhibit Supervisor for the Apiary Division at the Iowa State Fair. If you are interested, contact Donna Brahms, President of the IHPA. The deadline is Nov 30.

Donna Brahms
65071 720th St.
Cumberland, IA 50843-8125
Phone: (712) 774-5878
Email : mbrahms@netins.net

For Sale : Corn Syrup $115 per barrel Contact : Phil Ebert (641) 527-2639 or ehoney37@netins.net

Featured Beekeeper of the Month

This month’s featured beekeeper is Bob Wolff, Bob the Bee Man. Bob and his wife Karla live in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and operate BR Honey Co. and B. Products.

Bob Wolff tells the kids at the Hoover school in Cedar Rapids all about the wonders of beekeeping.

Bob says he has 4 to 7 hives depending on the season and 6 to 9 hives at the Indian Creek Nature Center. His company has bee products like honey, comb honey, beeswax candles, bee pollen, and propolis. Bob says the most satisfying aspect of beekeeping is being out working the hives. He finds it relaxing, because he pushes everything out of his mind and focuses on the bees, in an effort to not get stung. He says he likes teaching about bees and beekeeping to other people. He goes to many elementary schools during the fall to talk about bees and beekeeping.

His response to why did he start keeping bees is this. Bob says, “I started keeping bees during the first beekeeping class taught at the Indian Creek Nature Center in Cedar Rapids. This was in 1992. The class was offered to young adults and my daughter was interested in learning about bees and beekeeping. Russ Swenson was the instructor and head beekeeper for the Nature Center. During the last class of the season, Russ approached me, asking if I would be interested in becoming his assistant and helping him teach the next year’s class. I accepted, and have been helping him teach the class since then. Within the last two years, I have assumed the role of the head beekeeper at the Nature Center. The Nature Center’s bee program is the only one of its kind in the state of Iowa. It not only offers a full year beekeeping class, but also has an exhibit of bees, including an observation hive. The Nature Center also offers nature classes that include bees. Many local schools from the surrounding communities, including Iowa City and Central City, participate in these programs at the Nature Center. The Nature Center is supported by volunteer beekeepers from the area, including the East Central Iowa Beekeeping Association. Two bee supply companies, Lapps, and Kelly’s Bee Supplies, also support it. The bee program has had over 100 students participate in the class, most of whom are members of the East Central Iowa Beekeeping Association. There have been over 1200 school children that have visited the bee exhibit since Russ established the program in 1991.” He also says he would like to learn and expand the beekeeping class at the Nature Center by offering a queen raising class.

Bob is a member of the East Central Iowa Beekeeping Association. They meet every second Monday in the first month of the quarter at the Johnson County Fair Grounds at 7:00 p.m. He is also a member of the IHPA, has assisted at the state fair booth, and also has worked with several local honey queen candidates who have become the Iowa Honey Queen and the American Beekeeping Honey Princess.

Thanks for your story Bob, and keep those beekeeping classes going.

Submitted by
Ron Wehr