Welcome to the National Honey Bee Awareness Day and the National Honey Bee Day Website
The National Honey Bee Day program started with a simple concept. Bring together beekeepers, bee associations and clubs, as well as other interested groups and individuals to connect with communities and advance beekeeping. By working together, and harnessing the efforts that so many individuals and groups already accomplish, and using a united effort on one day a year, the returns and message can be magnified.
The primary goals of the National Honey Bee Day program:
1) Promotion and the advancement of beekeeping.
2) Educate the public to honey bees and beekeeping.
3) Make the public aware of environmental concerns. |
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The first National Honey Bee Day program was held on August 22, 2009. 16 states and 41 bee association and individual programs were presented to the public. Events consisted of programs such as educational seminars at environmental centers, open houses at apiaries, hosted honey tasting events, as well as displays at county and state fairs.
National Honey Bee Awareness Day (August 22, 2009) was formally recognized and a proclamation (click here to view) announced on the 11th. Day of August, 2009, the two-hundred thirty-fourth year of the Independence of the United States of America. Signed by Thomas J. Vilsack, the Secretary of Agriculture of the United States of America.
The first event and all the costs were paid out of the pockets of concerned individuals and association budgets. People contributed on so many levels to make this happen. This is what we were striving for when we decided to do a grassroots program. We asked beekeepers to step forward and help in the promotion of the very industry and hobby that they have come to enjoy. And did they ever! Many companies are doing wonderful things to help with solving some of the problems within the bee industry. Many bee groups are raising money for research, and funding other efforts. The National Honey Bee Day program is focused on expanding the beekeeping community, and working to educate the public to industry problems.
We are hard at work planning the next National Honey Bee Day event, which is scheduled for August 21, 2010. We will be asking the participants of the next program to come up with a "national theme". Something like "The dangers of homeowner pesticides" or "Why the public needs honey bees". The National Honey Bee Day efforts will continue to add to the program in a positive and proactive manner, and expand the website so beekeepers and non-beekeepers can use it’s resources.
Please read the information on the "Sponsors" page of this website. The National Honey Bee Day is 100% free for bee associations, bee groups, and concerned individuals to participate. (No membership fees, no yearly dues, and no obligations.) But that does not mean we do not need some help.
Whether you are a beekeeper, non-beekeeper, farmer, backyard gardener, a nature lover, a concerned steward of the environment, or anyone else, please consider getting involved on some level. Together, we can make a difference. Thank you.
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