It’s Spring.
Love Is in the Air!

Jon has worked with honey bees since 1998. He presents lectures, workshops, and short courses for new and experienced beekeepers, emphasizing bee biology and behavior as the cornerstones of productive, healthy colonies. He and his family operate Walnut Valley Honey Farm in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Julia has kept bees since 2004 and was named Georgia Beekeeper of the Year in 2018. A graphic artist, she designed Georgia’s “Save the honey bee” license plate. Her education work includes teaching beekeeping in Georgia prisons, and her citizen science website gathers data on drone congregation areas.

His extension initiatives include the Queen & Disease Clinic and the Beekeeper Education & Engagement System (BEES). His research examines the reproductive potential, genetic diversity, and mating success of commercially produced queens. He has served on boards including the NC State Beekeepers, Eastern Apiculture Society, and Bee Informed Partnership.

Joe and his wife Debbie kept bees in Colorado for ten seasons before moving their beekeeping to North Carolina. His “Bee-Engaged” presentations combine hands-on experience with an appreciation for honey bee biology and behavior. He serves as VP of the Iredell County NC Beekeepers and co-moderator of Bee Leaders of North Carolina.

Mark maintains 25–45 hives for honey production and research. He and his wife run Justin Case Bee Products and enjoy selling at fairs and festivals. His Master Craftsman research examined the use of hard peppermint candy to repel small hive beetles in colonies with low or moderate infestation rates.

Nancy is a retired psychology professor and licensed clinical psychologist whose patients now have six legs and a strong work ethic. She is a Senior Honey Judge with the American Honey Judge Association and holds Level I certification in honey sensory analysis through the Italian Register of Experts. Published by Wicwas Press, her book Beeswax Essentials explores wax history and science, comb building, wax craft, and judging. Her presentation covers appreciating pure beeswax, mordants, and wick selection to help makers create beautiful products. Nancy lives with her husband, dairy goats, and honey bees at NannyBees Farm in Ravenel, South Carolina, where she has kept bees for almost 15 years.

Philip has kept bees since 2018 and co-owns J-Pees Honey Bees in Harleyville, South Carolina. He specializes in swarm recovery and live honey bee removals and has performed cutouts since 2023. An electrician by trade, he enjoys sharing lessons learned from rescuing and relocating colonies.

A former computer engineer, Cameron regularly shares real-world insights on growing and managing commercial beekeeping businesses at scale. HoneyStrong provides honey production, pollination services, queen and nuc production, and a full-service bee supply store serving hobbyist, sideliner, and commercial beekeepers. Cameron develops and supplies the Carolina Crown genetic line and produces HDO hive pallets for commercial beekeeping.

Judy has kept bees since 2018 and co-owns J-Pees Honey Bees in Harleyville, South Carolina. Her beeswax flowers earned first place at the state level, and the couple’s honey entries have earned second-place ribbons. She also works alongside Philip on hive inspections and honey extractions.