The Buzz Newsletter

November 2005

 

 

Page 1

Greetings from the President of the IHPA

Dear Honey Producers,

Another Thanksgiving season is upon us. Especially at this time of year we are thankful for our families, our homes, our country, our honey crop and our unpredictable weather. We are thankful that we live in a country where we have many freedoms including a choice of religion. Some of the things that I am thankful for this year include the arrival of a new grandson, Jack, on September 21st to middle son Steve and his wife Emma. He has a big sister, JoAnn that is two years old. We are thankful that we get to see them often. We also have two grandsons, Vincent and Michael in Oklahoma. We are thankful that we got to see them the end of October along with their parents, Shawn and Meladee. There are mixed emotions connected with that visit. Their Dad, oldest son, Shawn, was deployed back to Iraq then. Youngest son, Mitch is scheduled to arrive back in the United States the middle of November from Iraq.

I attended the National Honey Board meeting in Kansas City on October 6th and 7th. Some of the discussion centered around the use of honey in the naming of a product. I have received several communications from IHPA members concerning this. The laws of our land need a few adjustments in my opinion. We were reminded that the name “honey” can be in the title of products and not have honey in the product itself. They are just using a title. If “honey” is listed as an ingredient there had better be honey in it. There are no specifications as to how much honey, there just has to be honey in the product. Another topic of discussion centered around the new research being conducted in the honey industry. Several very interesting ideas are being pursued.

The Annual Meeting is always a fun-filled learning experience. There is time to converse with fellow beekeepers to learn some of the new innovative ideas they are using and of course, time
for you to tell of your successes and sometimes failures. The speakers always keep us informed of important topics. Check elsewhere in the BUZZ for the agenda and information about our speakers this year. Plan to spend Friday, November 18th and Saturday, November 19th in Marshalltown for the Annual Meeting of the Iowa Honey Producers Association. If you can only attend one day, we have scheduled the speakers for both days so you can still get plenty of information.

If there are any changes you would like to see for the Apiary Exhibits at the Iowa State Fair, please let us know or attend the short State Fair meeting on Saturday during the Annual Meeting. Any changes that will be made have to be done by January.

Please consider entering the cooking with honey contest and the photo contest at the Annual Meeting. The requirements and categories are listed in another article in the BUZZ. Join the friendly competition. The food is always the best part of the breaks.

If you made mead, please bring some for us to sample at the wine and cheese welcome get- together before the banquet. It is always great to check out different recipes.

Don’t forget the silent auction and the Queen committee auction during the banquet. It is always fun to see the great items for sale. My beekeeping collection keeps growing!
See you all at the IHPA Annual meeting. I always look forward to meeting you.

Bee Thankful.
Donna Brahms, IHPA President

The Buzz Newsletter Submissions

Please send submissions, classified ads, and photos to Alex W. Ebert by email to TheBuzz@ABuzzAboutBees.com
or by mail to The Buzz, c/o Phil Ebert, 14808 S. 102nd Ave. E., Lynnville, IA 50153.
The deadline for submissions to The Buzz is the 15th of each month.

Gordon Powell, IHPA Treasurer

4012 54th St.

Des Moines, IA 50310

Phone : (515) 278-1762