By Brandy Brabham
WVU Extension Service
A group of beekeepers from Calhoun, Clay, Roane, and Wirt Counties established a beekeepers association known as West Central Beekeepers' Association (WCBA) about four years ago to gain support for honeybee colony development and increase the knowledge of beekeeping and honey production in the region.
For each meeting, they try to obtain a well-informed and knowledgeable speaker, who can teach about the importance of having honeybees in the area, how to increase their food sources, methods for introducing new honeybees to hives; and treating for mites and other diseases, which might be contracted by the bees; and of course the various methods of honey harvesting.
The West Central Beekeepers Association has been very successful at acquiring grants and assistance for cost-sharing programs for honeybee colonies, food supplements, food sources, and hive medications for the beekeepers over the last several years. They work very closely with the West Virginia Beekeepers Association, the West Virginia University Extension Service, and the West Virginia Department of Agriculture to provide educational programs and cost-sharing programs.
Annual membership dues are $12.00 and that covers your membership into the state association as well. Members received monthly postcard reminders of meetings and various mailings and newsletters throughout the year.
Monthly meetings are usually held the fourth Saturday of each month at the New Life Baptist Church in Arnoldsburg, WV. The next meeting is scheduled for Saturday, March 23, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. Anyone interested in joining the Association or just learning more about the Association is invited to attend the next meeting or contact Dale Cunningham, President at 304-354-6916 or Sharon Christ, Secretary at 304-927-1775.
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