Wisconsin Honey Producers Association

2027 One Hive Travel Grant

Dear Beekeeper,
We are excited to announce a travel grant opportunity of up to $1,500 for beekeepers to attend the following workshop:

Bee-Friendly Policy & Advocacy Training for Beekeepers, presented by Dr. Judy Wu-Smart from the University of Nebraska.

This 3-hr workshop will take place during the American Beekeeping Federation Annual Conference on Thursday, January 14, 2027 from 2:00 - 5:00 PM in Galveston, Texas.

The One Hive Foundation travel grant aims to support beekeepers interested in strengthening their advocacy and policy engagement skills, enabling them to effectively represent the interests of the beekeeping community. Priority will be given to representatives of beekeeping organizations, as the knowledge and experience gained through this opportunity are expected to be shared with and utilized by the broader organizations and communities they represent.

Grants will be made directly to the individual attending, and past travel grant recipients are not eligible to apply again. Eligible uses of grant funds include airfare, hotel, and other travel-related expenses. All recipients will also receive a complimentary registration to the ABF conference.

The application deadline is Monday, August 3rd, 2026, 5:00 pm Eastern Standard Time. For more information and to apply, please use this link.

Feel free to share this announcement with anyone who might be interested in this opportunity. Applicants are encouraged to apply soon, as travel awards are limited and will be distributed on a competitive basis.

Thank you for your support in spreading the word. (We posted about the travel grants on our Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Feel free to share these posts with your networks!)

We look forward to empowering more beekeepers with the tools and knowledge needed for impactful advocacy!

Best,

One Hive Foundation team

For more information and to apply, visit: https://goapply2.akoyago.com/onehive/Identity/Account/Login?ReturnUrl=%2Fonehive

July is a critical month for honey bee colony health. While nectar flows may be slowing in some areas, colony populations and Varroa mite levels can remain high.

Healthy colonies going into fall with varroa mite levels

Tropilaelaps Frontlines: Fighting this Emerging Honey Bee Threat In the first part of this documentary series, Tropilaelaps Frontlin...

Small-Scale/Sideliner SIG Webinar

Small-Scale/Sideliner Special Interest Group ABF Board of Directors: Jim McMahon and Tim Branam will host a webinar on Sunday, July 12 at 8:00 pm est moderated by Brian Reeves. Free registration.

To register, visit: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_zw7824Z4SqaFHP1ya2Qnbg #/registration

This information is from the American Beekeeping Federation

🐝 WHPA Members—We're Almost There! 🍯

First, thank you to everyone who has already signed up to volunteer or committed to donating honey for our Wisconsin State Fair booth. Your willingness to pitch in is what makes this event possible!

We're excited to share that our volunteer schedule is now 75% full. We only need a few more volunteers to fill the remaining shifts. If you've been thinking about helping, we'd love to have you join us.

Working the booth is a great opportunity to visit with fellow members, meet beekeepers from around the state, and introduce thousands of fairgoers to Wisconsin honey and the incredible work our beekeeping community does.

We're also still looking for donations of 2.5- or 5-gallon pails of honey to produce the nearly 30,000 honey sticks we sell during the Fair. Those honey stick sales are our largest fundraiser of the year and help support WHPA's educational programs, youth scholarships, outreach, and member services.

👉 Volunteer sign up link is in the comments.

🍯 If you can donate honey, please contact Matt LaForge so we can coordinate pickup or delivery.

Whether you volunteer for one shift, donate a pail of honey, or do both, you're helping showcase Wisconsin beekeeping and support our association.

Thank you for being part of the WHPA family—we can't wait to see you at the Fair! 💛🐝

Check out VP James Hillemeyer on a recent podcast:

James Hillmeyer on Honeybees, Hard Work, and the Partnerships That Feed America Episode 130 - ConversActions What if one of the most important parts of our food system worked almost entirely while the rest of us were asleep? In this episode, James Hillmeyer, co-owner of LB Werks and a second-generation commercial beekeeper, takes us inside the demanding world of commercial pollination. He shares how health...

🐝 We are excited to announce a new travel grant opportunity 🐝

Apply now for a grant of up to $1,500 to cover your travel and lodging costs to attend the "Bee-Friendly Policy and Advocacy Training for Beekeepers," a workshop led by Dr. Judy Wu-Smart during the Beekeeping Federation annual conference in January 2027.

All recipients will also receive a complimentary registration to the ABF conference. The application deadline is Monday, August 3rd, 2026, 5:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.

Apply here: https://goapply2.akoyago.com/onehive/Identity/Account/Login?ReturnUrl=%2Fonehive

Happy Independence Day from the Wisconsin Honey Producers Association! 🐝🍯

As we celebrate our nation's independence, let's also celebrate the hardworking Wisconsin beekeepers and the honey bees that help our farms, gardens, and wildflowers flourish.

This holiday, sweeten your picnic with local Wisconsin honey and support the beekeepers who work year-round to care for their bees.

Have a safe, happy, and sweet Fourth of July! ❤️🤍💙

🐝 Can You Help WHPA at the Wisconsin State Fair? 🍯

The countdown is on, and we still need your help!

🍯 Honey donations are needed ASAP to make the nearly 30,000 honey sticks we sell during the Wisconsin State Fair. If you can donate a 2.5- or 5-gallon pail of honey, we'd be incredibly grateful. Contact Matt LaForge and we'll make arrangements to pick up honey donations.

🙋 We also have plenty of volunteer shifts available! Our schedule is just over half full, so there are still lots of opportunities to join us. Volunteers help sell honey, answer questions, and introduce thousands of fairgoers to Wisconsin beekeeping—and receive free fair admission during their shift (parking on your own)!

Every hour you volunteer and every pail of honey donated helps support WHPA's educational programs, youth initiatives, and efforts to promote Wisconsin's beekeeping industry.

Thank you for supporting Wisconsin's beekeeping community! ❤️🐝

📅 Volunteer sign-up link is in the comments.