Preparing honeybees for winter

By Ethan Nahté

The Ouachita Beekeepers Association (OBA) will have a free presentation featuring Jon Zawislak, assistant professor of urban entomology & plant pathology for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service, Little Rock. He is a Certified Master Beekeeper, Eastern Apicultural Society (EAS), which requires a high level of beekeeping expertise and the ability to educate others in the art of beekeeping.

Zawislak is a UADA Extension Apiculture Specialist. In layman’s terms, he really knows what’s abuzz about bees. He is also a member of several professional groups that involve bees, monarchs, and entomology.

According to the EAS site, “There has been a growing interest in beekeeping in North America, particularly in the past decade among hobbyists. Because of the continuing growth of this interest, there is a need for competent beekeepers to provide education and assistance to beginning beekeepers and serve in other capacities in the community as experts in beekeeping. The Master Beekeeper program was developed to certify qualified beekeepers to fill this need.”

Zawislak will be speaking about preparing honeybees for winter. Did you know that over one-third of all food we consume has been pollinated by honeybees?

This free presentation will be a great start for those interested in potentially becoming an apiarist, or for those who are already beekeeping and want to know more.

The event will be at The Ouachita Center on the UA Rich Mountain campus, 1100 College Drive, Mena, beginning at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 10. Although the presentation is free, seating is limited. It’ll be first come; first serve.