Honey Judging Contest at the 2013 Fall Conference!

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Once again, we will be bringing this popular and entertaining event back to the 2013 fall conference. After several years of absence, we had a honey judging contest at our 2012 fall conference. It was a big hit! So we have decided hold a honey judging contest again at our 2013 fall conference.
So bring your honey and strut your stuff. Entries can be liquid honey, creamed honey, comb honey and/or bees wax.
Michigan Beekeepers Association Honey Show Rules
1.Only members in good standing of the Michigan Beekeepers Association will be allowed to place entries in the show.
2.All entries must have been produced within the last 12 months.
3.All honey entries will have three of each item. (liquid, three one pound jars, comb, three sections, etc.)
4.Exhibitors are allowed one entry per class.
5.Entries must have no identifying labels or marks on the entries other than the marks placed on them by show officials.
6.Color grades are to be determined by the show superintendent, whose decision is final.
7.The show superintendent may refuse entries for reasons he or she believes are just.
8.All entries must be entered and in place before the program begins on Saturday.
9.All entries must be exhibited in clear glass or plastic. In case of a tie and no other way can be found to break the tie glass will be judged over plastic. Comb honey entries in wood may be exhibited in removable cardboard paper cartons. Round sections must have clear covers on both top and bottom.
10.Standard honey jars, Gamber, Queenline, etc are acceptable. No other jars, canning, jelly, etc. will be accepted.
11.Metal or plastic caps may be used.
12.Beeswax-two classes. Class one entries will be three one-pound blocks. Class two is an artistic presentation that shall use a minimum on one pound of beeswax.
13.Decisions of the judges are final.
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The 2013 MBA Fall Conference is (a lot) closer than you think and it is time to start planning to attend!

The conference will be held in Flint, Michigan, at the Holiday Inn Gateway Center on Friday, October 25, 2012 and Saturday, October 26.The featured speaker will be Jane Burgess, recently retired CEO from Walter T. Kelly (a national bee supply and catalog company).

There will be break-out sessions on both days covering a wide range of topics that should be of interest for both the beginner and advanced beekeeper alike. And, of course, the ever-popular vendor area will be back so that you can see all of the latest beekeeping equipment in one place.

Pre-registration is available on-line and we encourage all attendees to do so. When you pre-register, your conference material will be available for immediate pick-up… no waiting in line. And, you get a discount too!

Before you pre-register, please note that in order to get the MBA member discount you must be a current member of the MBA. The 2012 memberships expired on December 31, 2012. So you may need to renew your membership for 2013. Click here to check your membership status.

Note: Pre-registration will close Wednesday, October 23, 2013.
To pre-register on-line, click here.

Registration Fees:
Pre-Registered
MBA Member, 2-Day: $20.00
MBA Member, 1-Day: $10.00
Non-Member, 2-Day: $40.00
Non-Member, 1-Day: $20.00
Spouse/Guest, 2-Day: $10.00
Spouse/Guest, 1-Day: $5.00

Paid At-the-Door
MBA Member, 2-Day: $25.00
MBA Member, 1-Day: $15.00
Non-Member, 2-Day: $45.00
Non-Member, 1-Day: $25.00
Spouse/Guest, 2-day: $15.00
Spouse/Guest, 1-Day: $10.00

Lodging:
MBA has reserved a limited block of rooms at the Holiday Inn Gateway Center which are available on a first-come-first-served basis. Special MBA rates are $92 per night (single or double). Plus applicable fees, state and local taxes.

If you are planning to stay at the hotel, then we suggest that you make your reservations early. The hotel requests that reservations be made by October 3. Their phone number for reservations are 800-465-4329 or 810-232-5300. Be sure to identify yourself with the Michigan Beekeepers’ Association in order to get the discounted rate.

Schedule of Events:

There will be break out sessions on Friday morning, afternoon and Saturday morning and afternoon. The tentative list of classes include…

New Bee Mentoring – Charlotte Hubbard
Lotions/Creams – Angie Foster
Moisture, Insulation & Reducing Winter Losses – Bob Williams
Marketing – Judy Schmaltz
Creamed Honey – Judy Schmaltz
Beginners Track – Dale Woods & Mike Risk
Making Mead – Mead Mamas
Beekeeping in the UP – Joel Lantz
Michigan Cottage Food Act - Christine Venema
Candles & Rendering Wax- Bob Hollis
Products of the Hive - Rich Wieske
Beekeepers Workshop – Steve Tilmann
Update on Nosema – Dr. Zachary Huang
Summary of Apimondia 2013 (Ukraine) – Anne Marie Fauvel

Click here for complete schedule. This is the schedule as of 10/22/13.
Click here for a description of classes.
Friday, October 25
8a.m. -12 p.m. – registration
9:00 – MBA announcements General Assembly room
9:30 – 10:45 – Jane Burgess Keynote speaker
11:00-12:00 – first breakout sessions

2:00-3:00 – second breakout session

3:00-4:00 – third breakout session

Saturday, October 26

8:00 – 11:00 Registration
8a.m. -12 p.m. – registration
9:00 – MBA announcements General Assembly room
9:30 – 10:45 – Jane Burgess, Keynote speaker

11:00-12:00 – first breakout session

2:00 – 3:00 – second breakout session

3:30-4:30 – General Membership meeting,

Treasurer’s Report
Honey Show results
Election results
Member Resolutions & Discussion

Honey Judging Contest:
Back by popular demand. Read the details and rules by clicking here.

Vendors:
The vendors are always a very popular event. You can see what’s new in beekeeping and purchase equipment and supplies for the upcoming season. Most vendors will bring items to the conference for sale and some are accepting pre-conference orders (you save on shipping!). Please support our vendors, as they help make the spring conference possible.

Anthony Bee Farms
Blackmore-Rowe
Buggsnest, LLC
Dadant & Sons, Inc
doTERRA Essential Oils
Napoleon Bee Supply
S&B Honey
T.M. Klein & Sons
Turlebee Farms

Hospitality Suite
This year you may have noticed that we are not going to have the Friday night banquet. Instead, your MBA will be hosting a swarm in the hospitality room. All queens, workers and drones are welcome! This is shaping up to be a good party. So come and show us your best waggle dance!

Volunteers
Putting on the conference is a lot of work and we can always use volunteers to help us along. We can use help with a short setup on Thursday evening, handing out material in the classes and general session, helping out with the hospitality room, assistance with at-the-door registration and post-conference evaluation. Even if you only have a short time available, any help is greatly appreciated. Contact Steve Tilmann, MBA Treasurer.

Follow next two postings.