SCBA 2026 Spring Conference

Presented by Diamond Sponsor:

Thank you to our Sponsors -
We could not deliver this conference without your generosity

Platinum Sponsors

To be confirmed

Gold Sponsors

Badge Sponsor
Keynote Sponsor
Youth Education Grant Sponsor

Program Sponsor
Keynote Sponsor

Silver Sponsors

Keynote Sponsor

Youth Education Grant Sponsor

Bronze Sponsors

General Conference Sponsor

General Conference Sponsor

General Conference Sponsor

Conference / SCBA Sponsors

Youth Education Grant Sponsor

Honey Show Sponsor

Honey Show Sponsor

Interested in Becoming a Sponsor?

SCBA depends on our conference sponsors to off-set the cost of our conferences for our members and support our Youth Education and Research initiatives. We have several levels of sponsorship to meet most every budget and would love to have you join us in helping to provide quality education and programming for the beekeepers of South Carolina.

Anyone can sponsor – Businesses, Individuals, Clubs, or Organizations! Please click the button below.

As a Sponsor, you will enjoy national advertising through our website and social media platforms as well as conference program and event signage. You may also elect to join us as a vendor with added sponsorship. Vendors may add sponsorship to their registration accessed separately by using the Vendor Registration Link below. If you choose to also be a vendor at our conference, your vendor placement will be prioritized based on your level of sponsorship.

A Full Conference Registration is included for those sponsoring at $250 or above. Businesses and Affiliated Clubs may choose to sponsor a conference activity and name one of their members to fill the complimentary registration. Attendance is not required for sponsorship.

SCBA is a 501c3 non-profit charitable organization. All sponsorship donations are tax-deductible.

Thank you for supporting the mission of SCBA in South Carolina!

Meet our Spring Keynote Speakers

Dr. Robyn Underwood

Apiculture Extension Educator

As Penn State’s Extension Educator of Apiculture, Robyn conducts scientific research projects to study beekeeper-applied questions and brings the results of the projects to the beekeepers through extension products with an aim to improve the industry while making beekeeping a more successful venture.

Her research program focuses on honey bee health and practical beekeeping considerations. Specifically, she is studying the impacts of honey bee colony management and queen origin on colony health and productivity. Her ongoing projects include experiments that assess the foraging of honey bees on organic farms, performance of honey bee queens from various genetic lines, and how different types of feed impact honey bee health. Her research and extension aspirations work hand in hand. Conducting scientifically sound research projects to study beekeeper-applied questions is critically important.

Dr. Jennifer Berry

Apicultural Research Professional and Lab Manager for the University of Georgia Honey Bee Program

For 25 years, Jennifer has served as the Apicultural Research Professional and Lab Manager for the University of Georgia’s Honey Bee Program. She is currently the Adjunct Professor in the Department of Entomology. Her recent research has concentrated on the use of oxalic acid for controlling varroa mites and identifying optimal plant species for both traditional and non-traditional landscapes to boost pollinator populations and diversity. In addition to her research, Jennifer is dedicated to teaching beekeeping and pollinator conservation to audiences here and abroad along with those in Georgia’s medium and maximum-security prisons. She has played a key role in establishing numerous pollinator gardens throughout the state, aimed at creating pollinator corridors and raising awareness about the significance of beneficial insects. Each fall, she teaches “Ento 3010: Bees, Beekeeping and Pollinator Conservation,” a highly regarded course within the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at UGA.

For the Who's Who of the conference click here. (coming soon)

What's on offer this Spring?

Artisan Show

Entries accepted:
Friday 3-5pm
Saturday 7.30-9.30 am

Please click the link to review the entry categories and rules for the Artisan Show.

SCBA Membership and conference attendance are required to enter the Artisan Show.

Please register by February 6th, 2026 if you plan to enter.

View show categories and entry information here.

Download entry form and affidavit here.

Honey Exchange

Submissions: Friday 8-10 am & 2-3 pm Saturday 7.30-8am

Collections: Saturday 3-3.15 pm

Entry is included in your registration but please let us know if you are taking part on your registration form.

The Honey Exchange operates according to the below criteria.

1. Each person who desires to participate in the Swap may bring up to three 1 lb jars of labeled honey.
2. Honey must be produced and labeled by the person making the submission.
3. Jars may be submitted on Friday February 27th, from 8:00-10:00 am and 2:00-3:00 pm, and again on Saturday February 28th, from 7:30-8:00 am.
4. For each 1 lb jar submitted, you will receive 1 ticket.
5. On Saturday, February 28th from 3:00-5:30pm, those submitting honey may exchange each ticket for a 1 lb jar of honey from the jars that have been submitted.

Honey choices are on a First Come, First Served basis, coordinated by the Honey Exchange Volunteers.

Any unclaimed honey will be considered a donation.

Queen Production with Ben Powell

Thursday 1-4 pm
Pee Dee Research & Education Center

Our State Apiculturist, Ben Powell will open the gates to the Pee Dee Research and Education Center for a pre-conference training and tour. Participants will learn the basics of large-scale queen production and will tour the facility grounds to see winter cover crops, canola plots, pollinator habitats and bee yards. Light refreshments and snacks will be provided.

This session is included with your registration but pre-registration is required.

Note: This session occurs offsite from the conference venue at the Pee Dee Research & Education Center, 2200 Pocket Road, Florence, SC 29506.

Pre-registration is required for this session.

Beekeeping 101: A Brief Introduction to Beekeeping with George Baker

Saturday 8.30-10.30 am

Join us for a light, beginner-friendly intro designed to give you a feel for the world of honeybees and beekeeping.

In this short session, you’ll explore what is beekeeping, meet the tools of the trade, learn alternative ways you can help without keeping bees, and more.

$10 Add-on: Select Beekeeping 101 on your registration form.

Master Beekeeper Testing

Friday 1-5 pm

Ready to sit your Certified Beekeeper exam or advance to Journeyman level? Use your time at the conference to also complete testing.

Certified Level written $10
Journeyman written / practical $35
- Must submit 5 Public Service Credits and 3 Minor Credits PRIOR to testing*
- Must submit beekeeping portfolio with original credit documentation on day of testing
Master written $75
- Must submit all credits (10 PSC, 3 Major, 5 Minor) PRIOR to testing*
- Must submit beekeeping portfolio with original credit documentation on day of testing
- Master Practical and Oral exams will be scheduled during Summer Conference

Must register and submit evidence by February 6th.

Submit questions and credit evidence to mbp@scstatebeekeepers.com

Queen Rearing for the Backyard Beekeeper with Susan Jones

Friday 2.15-4 pm

This session is a practical, hands-on workshop that demystifies queen rearing for small-scale and sideline beekeepers. This workshop will guide you through the essentials of queen biology, queen selection, and the core principles of making strong, successful splits.

If you’re seeking training in grafting or other more equipment-intensive queen-rearing methods, please register for the alternate workshop.

Fee includes a Queen Calendar Wheel and a Queen Cage for each participant.

$10 Add-on: Select Queen Rearing for Backyard Beekeepers on your registration form.

Click below to view the conference program for each day

Register to Attend

Member Registration

Two full days – SAVE with EARLY registration.

$75 – SUPER EARLY BIRD by December 31st

$85 – EARLY BIRD by January 31st

$100 – STANDARD from February 1st

Attend by the Day:

$50 Daily Rate

Family Rate:

$200 (for up to two adults and three children up to 17 years)

Current SCBA membership is required to use the conference member registration. Please log in to your SCBA member account prior to clicking the registration button to secure your member rate.

Non-Member Registration

Two full days:

$120

Attend by the day:

$60 – Daily Rate

You may register as an SCBA member to secure special conference rates.

Youth Registration

Two Full Days

$50 – for Youth ages 12-17 years

Single Day Registration

$25 Daily Rate for Youth ages 12-17 years

Note: General conference programming is geared for adults and is typically not appropriate for children under 12.

All youths must be accompanied and supervised by a parent or guardian under a separate paid registration.

Vendor Directory

Our conference vendors are listed in alphabetical order. Please click on their logos to visit their websites. Conference special offers are listed below each logo.

10% off everything on our website (except sugar) delivered to the conference. See tab on the website under EVENTS.

$10 off 2oz Swarm Commander spray.
$5 off Swarm Commander super lure.
Free extra long goat, scan, leather, or cowhide leather gloves with purchase of Swarm Commander protective clothing.

Pre-orders delivered to conference without shipping fees.

Conference only specials.

Free Sampling and the chance to receive a gourmet food package

15% off all pre-orders and free delivery to the conference.

Pre-orders delivered to conference without shipping fees.

Pre-orders delivered to conference without shipping fees.

Interested in Becoming a Conference Vendor?

Thank you for your interest in becoming a Vendor at our Spring 2026 conference.

Vendor booths will be located on the first floor of the conference building. We offer half booth, full booth and double booth options ranging from $150-$450.

All vendor options include a conference badge(s) and inclusion in the Friday evening social. Dedicated vendor demonstration times and a vendor showcase have been built into the schedule to encourage shopping. Please indicate your willingness to fill one of the demonstration slots on your registration form and consider offering a discount or special to coordinate with your demonstration. We will publish your specials on our website to encourage pre-conference sales. Booth location assignments will be prioritized based on the date of registration and sponsorship level, if applicable.

Please contact Danny Cannon at advertising@scstatebeekeepers.com with any vendor questions or click below to register.

Conference General Information

Venue Information

Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing and Technology (SIMT).

1951 Pisgah Rd, Florence, SC 29501.

The conference is taking place on the first floor of the conference venue.

Complimentary Coffee Service will be offered each morning.
Restaurants are conveniently located throughout the downtown area within walking distance for lunch and evening meals.
The following three boxed lunch options ill be offered both days for $13 each as an add on to your registration.
- Vegetarian – Mozzarella, Roasted Peppers, Parmesan, Greens, Basil and Smoked Tomato Ranch on Focaccia Bread.
- Sliced Chicken & Gouda Cheese with Bacon, Sriracha Ranch on French Bread.
- Smoked Ham & Swiss, Apple Poppy Dijon on Thick Cut White Bread.

Boxed lunches are served with a bag of chips, a cookie and a pickle. Complimentary water is available at the venue.

Note: Deadline to register for boxed lunches is Friday February 6th.

Note: If you have already registered but forgot to register for lunch you can add it on before February 6th.

Hotel Information

SCBA has secured discounted rooms at the below hotels for the 2026 Spring Conference. There are a limited number of rooms available at each hotel at the rates listed, and rooms are available on a first come, first serve basis depending upon availability. We recommend making your reservation as early as possible to ensure availability.

$129 per night

$114 per night