Welcome to the
Iowa Honey Producers Association
Helping fellow Beekeepers since 1912
2023 Annual Conference
November 10th & 11th
Main Speakers
We are striving for the BIGGEST Conference and Trade Show in the Midwest for 2023!!! We are proud to present the following individuals and programs. *Click* on the person's photo if you would like to read some additional background on them, or about the programs they will be discussing.
Welcome to the
Iowa Honey Producers Association
Helping fellow Beekeepers since 1912
Breakout Sessions & Honored Guests
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New - Open Discussion Panels!
Saturday before the Social Hour and Banquet, pick from 2 different panels of experts in an open discussion on the following topics:
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Sending Bees to California and Questions Experienced Beekeepers Stuggle With
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Experts: Curt Bronnenberg, Adam Ebert, Tyler Holton, Andy Joseph​
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Basic Round Table - geared for newer beekeepers
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Experts: Shannon Bardole-Foley, Kelsey Wigans, Stephanie Meyers​
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Guest Appearance by the Iowa Secretary of Ag.
Guest Appearance by the Mayor of Ames, John Haila
Guest Appearance by our Leg. Rep, Jim Obradovich
Banquet, Luncheons, & Breakfast
(pre-registration required for the lunches and banquet)
Queen Luncheon (Friday noon)
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BBQ Pulled Pork topped with coleslaw on a Kaiser bun, chips, & cookie
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Caesar Chicken Salad grilled ckn breast, romaine, croutons, parmesan, & bread
Presidential Reception (NEW-Friday night)
No registration needed for this, just show up and enjoy a slew of free hors d'oeuvres/appetizers, and a cash bar while rubbing elbows with speakers and board members along with finding out who our new Queen for 2024 will be and winners of our contests to be announced. ​​
Banquet (NEW-Saturday night)
The Gateway Conference Center is preparing a delicious dinner with a multitude of choices for you while you enjoy a whole evening of entertainment from Dr. Jamie Ellis, our award ceremony, live auction, and more to be announced.
Choices for dinner:
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Chicken Wellington - Chicken breast stuffed with mushroom duxelles and wrapped in flaky puff pastry, served with supreme sauce, wild rice pilaf and glazed carrots
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Seared Sliced Sirloin - Port wine demi-glace, mashed red bliss potatoes and French green beans
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Grilled Vegetable Risotto - Chef's selection of vegetables combined with traditional Italian risotto, finished with Parmesan cheese
(ALL BANQUET MEALS COME WITH A GARDEN SALAD, HOUSEMADE BREAD AND BUTTER, & A DECADENT DESSERT
Youth Scholarship Luncheon (Saturday noon)
Free Pastries, Beverages, & Coffee (Both mornings)
Start your conference right with a selection of pastries, coffee, and beverages. NEW for 2023 this is a free courtesy provided by your IHPA!
See the 2022 graduates of our scholarship program and the new line-up of youth starting their journey to becoming beekeepers while you dine on a tasty lunch.
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an assortment of boxed sandwiches, wraps and salads. All are accompanied with whole fruit, chips and cookie.
Auction, Auction, Raffle, & Prizes Galore!!!
Both days have a multitude of goodies going on in the realm of auctions and raffles. There will be a live auction during the Saturday evening banquet, and a silent auction each day along with 2 different quilt raffles. Auctions are comprised of donations by members and business partnerships with IHPA to generate funds for financing our amazing programs. At intervals throughout the days, door prizes will also be called out to attendees. On top of all this Roy Kraft, our illustrious past-president, talks his dear wife into making some of the most amazing beekeeping themed quilts you have ever set your eyes on. One quilt is raffled off and the other is part of the Saturday night live auction.
Awards and Achievements
Curt Bronnenburg, of Spring Valley Farms, has run this program of recognition for more years than I can recount. It has been a huge labor of love for him and it just blows me away year after year. Not many people like to toot-their-own-horn, but it's important to recognize people who go above and beyond or hit milestones that we all hope to reach someday. There are a whole slew of categories that are recognized. Please feel free to review the information by clicking the link below. If you know a beekeeper that fits one of these or surpasses it, I strongly encourage you to nominate them for one of the awards. The awards ceremony is part of the amazing banquet done Friday evening. If you aren't signed up for the banquet, please consider joining us!
Vendors
As always, we will have all your favorite vendors from the Midwest. For information about our vendors and sponsors or to get signed up to be one, please click on one of the links.
Grant Program
The Iowa Honey Producers Association supports honeybee and beekeeping research through grants to research projects during the IHPA Annual Meeting. The IHPA Grant Proposal Form will need to be postmarked by the submission deadline (September 15, 2023) . The IHPA Board will review the stated use of the Grant to confirm the use is in line with the goal of promoting continued research in honeybees and beekeeping. This review will allow the board time to request additional information if needed, and ensure total proposed Grants do not exceed the association’s budget for research Grants.
Elections
Every year, 3 of our 6 district directors, and all of our officers are up for election. Districts 1, 2, and 3 are up for election this year. All of the current board (President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Historian plan to run another year, but feel free to knock one of them off their spot! It is an election after all. Please contact Jason Foley at russianbeeguy@gmail.com if you are interested in running to get lined up with promoting your campaign and doing a meet and greet at conference. Click on the map for a better view of the districts.
What to do now???
There are 2 things you should think about doing
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1st, getting registered by clicking the "registration" button below or at the top of this page.
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2nd, will you be needing accommodations for your stay? If so, you will need to call the hotel (515-292-8600) directly and tell them you are with the IHPA Bee Conference, and they will honor the $129/night price we have been booking since the end of August. The electronic system for booking ended October 31st unfortunately.
Gateway Hotel & Conference Center
2100 Green Hills Dr,
Ames IA 50014
Registration
To register ahead of time and get some significant savings, please register online or print out the form and mail it with your payment made out to "Iowa Honey Producers Association" before November 1st. More detailed instructions are on the form. After November 1st prices go up and for some things (such as meals), pre-registration is necessary. So don't miss out!
Do you have questions about the event?
Call
319-215-7483
785-554-6529
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