Welcome to the
Iowa Honey Producers Association
Helping fellow Beekeepers since 1912
Our next IHPA event on the horizon
Summer Field Day
IHPA Summer Field Day sponsored by the Eastern Iowa Beekeeping Club
Pricing: Members $30, Non-Members $40, New Member plus Registration $60
Lunch Provided: Catered by The Smokeaholics, a local Brewery and BBQ featuring sauces made with local honey.
Smoked Brisket, Honey Brined Smoked Pork Loin, Coleslaw, Potato Salad, and Cornbread with honey butter.
Event Check In beginning at 9:15
Event Start Time 10:00am
End Time 4pm
By now, you have been seeing the yellow ad about summer field day and we are beyond thrilled to be able to have this great event at Ebert Honey in Mt. Vernon, IA this year. The day is going to be filled with informational sessions, live demonstrations and panels just to name a few things. When putting this event together, we
Saturday, June 21st
Ebert Honey 1090 IA-1N, Mt Vernon, IA 52314
wanted to make sure we tailor this to hobbyists with a couple colonies up to the folks starting a small business and ensure it’s beneficial for all. In addition, we have some great vending options for you here!
Let’s start off with the program!
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Sessions:
Ross Rounds and Cut Comb Honey
Who doesn’t love comb honey? Who doesn’t like the challenge of making comb honey? This session is set for those who want to learn the process of getting bees to draw our frame or ross rounds so you can either produce this for home use or as a value added product to offer to your customers. We are thrilled to have Phil Ebert and Shannon Bardole-Foley walking us through the process of making this happen.
Identifying Pests and Diseases
This session will be featuring our own State Apiarist, Andrew Joseph provinging the information we need to identify issues with hives, and how to deal with those. From the common varroa mite to discussion of AFB, Andrew will be talking about how we keep our bees healthy and strong to face the Iowa Winters.
Best Practices in Honey Harvest
As a beekeeper, honey harvest is one of the most exciting times, we get to see the fruits of our labor finally pay off. This session is going to be reviewing how to know when it’s time to pull honey supers, storage and bottling - including the elusive label requirements (not the elusive, but it’s a great refresher).
Starting a Bee Business what you need to know to get going
Don’t mistake this session for only those wanting to get into farmers markets or the commercial space. There’s a lot of questions that come when starting your beekeeping journey. This session is going to be part presentation, part panel from hobbyist to commercial beekeepers sharing their story, challenges and advice on how to have the best beekeeping operation, regardless of the number of hives, or aspirations. Come with questions ready to go, it’s encouraged!
Live Hive Inspections & Splits
We can’t have a Summer Field day without getting into some hives and Ebert Honey has been kind enough to provide the bees! These sessions will be led by Tyler Holton and you can expect the IHPA board to come in with an assist. Bring your bee suits, things will be buzzing!
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Your New 2025 IHPA Board and Directors (as decided by membership at the business meeting Saturday, Oct. 26th)
President:
Chris Puetz
Vice President:
Sara Holton
Secretary:
Heidi Love
Treasurer:
Lisa Montgomery
Historian:
Tina Marshall
Past President:
Jason Foley
District 4 Director:
Tyler Holton
District 5 Director:
Nicholas Simpson
District 6 Director:
Marlene Boernsen
State Apiarist:
Andrew Joseph
Continuing directors up for re-election next year
District 1 Director:
Jim Marshall
District 2 Director:
HR Cook
District 3 Director:
Riley Finer
2024 IHPA Memorial Scholarship Winners
Dist 1. Kate Richards, Solon
Dist 2. Abigal Dvorak, Cedar Falls
Dist 3. Isabelle Harty, Mason City
Dist 4. Mathew Mikles, Johnston
Dist 5. Dylan Calvin, Creston
Dist 6. Isabelle Gehrke, Milford
These high school graduates will receive a $500 schalorship. I would like to thank all the students that applied. We had more apps than last year. I had several people help and contribute to making this a success. Dick and Kristy Ostercamp for there advise and help. Riley Finer for his help and excepting a spot on the memorial committee. The district representatives all were willing to help and I really feel it makes this special when we can be at the assembly to represent the IHPA. Some had conflicts and were not able to do the presentation. Our President went to a school and made a presentation, Jason thank you. Some schools would not allow a representative to make the presentation and I understand the size of some, there is not enough time for. There will be some minor adjustments made for next year and I will be taking it to the board for approval but I feel this has been a successful year. I am looking forward for next year! Thank you.
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT TO OTHERS FOR YOUR LOVE OF HONEY BEES AND THE IHPA
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You can order one decal for $10 or two for $15 (make check to IHPA). You probably will want two since you will have two License Plates. You don’t have to have a decal on both. Or you could choose a different non-profit organization’s decal and place on the other plate, as well. Or, in the future you want a different type of decal you can easily change it or update your current decal.
You can see the Decal below and on the DOT’s website which is; https://iowadot.gov/mvd/vehicleregistration/vehicleregistration/Decals
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This decal is made to the same specifications that the month decal is made. So, it should last a few years. Now, for those of you that do not want to buy the Decal License Plate ($5.00 in addition to your registration fee plus $5.00 renewal fee at the County’s Treasurers Office) but still want a COOL DECAL you can use them like any decal – in your vehicle’s window, bumper or even on your refrigerator.
The purpose of this decal is raise awareness of Honey Bees and IHPA in Iowa. Yes, we will raise some dollars too. All funds raised will go to support Iowa State Fair Booth renovations.
Thanks for your support of this fun way of showing off our love of honey bees and of IHPA.
