LEWIS COUNTY BEEKEEPERS' ASSOCIATION                                                          

LCBA has 4 new 2020 Youth Scholarship students - we will bee getting photos of them soon & will post updates on their first year of beekeeping.

LCBA will start taking applications for 2021 in June  - the deadline to apply for our 2021 program is November 20, 2020. Please click on the link above for details & application forms. Students from families new to beekeeping in Lewis County, north Cowlitz County, & south Thurston County who will be in 6th - 10th grades in 2020 are eligible to apply.

HISTORY OF LCBA'S YOUTH IN BEEKEEPING SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM:

In 2014, LCBA started our Youth in Beekeeping Scholarship Program, funded by members' donations & dues, as well as support from community vendors (see below).  Our goal is to help foster a life-long love of beekeeping in young people whose families are not already beekeepers.

Two Toledo high school students applied & were selected to receive bees & all necessary equipment to start beekeeping, each assisted by an LCBA mentor. In 2015, the program came to Onalaska. In 2016, our youth scholars were from Chehalis. In 2017, LCBA opened the program to students in Lewis County overall, as well as south Thurston & North Cowlitz Counties, depending on mentor availability. In 2018, we had 3 youth scholarship students.

LCBA's Youth Scholarship students also receive free tuition to take LCBA's beginning beekeeping course & a free LCBA membership.

THANKS TO OUR SUPPORTERS WHOSE DONATIONS MAKE OUR YOUTH SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM HAPPEN:

LCBA thanks Beeline Apiaries of Rochester for their generous bid to equip our scholarship students from 2014 onward; to visit Beeline's website, click here; email:  beelineofwa@norcell.us

LCBA also thanks Kevin Mills (of Mills Cafe & Hive 5 Bees, 10109 US-12, Rochester, WA 98579 (360) 273-9165)  for his generous donation of Nucs of Bees to LCBA's Club Apiary.

We also thank these vendors for donating items for our fundraising drawings:

The Farm Store - Chehalis

Hubbub: Art for Every Day

Jeremy's Farm to Table Restaurant & Market

Kaija's Garden & Pet Supplies

Katie's Candies

Les Schwab of Centralia

Pioneer West Garden & Pet

Precision Printing (Copy Depot)

Reichert's Choice Meats

Reichert's Distributing

Rose of Sharon Farm

Ruhl Bee Supply & John Edwards

Service Saw/Workwears Inc.

Shakespeare & Company Coffee & Used Books

The Tiki Tap House

Most of all, LCBA thanks our members for their donations that fund the program!

For details on our 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, & 2019 Youth Scholarship program students & activities, please click on the links above. 

Questions about LCBA's Youth in Beekeeping Scholarship Program?  Please contact Education Coordinator Peter Glover (360 880 8132; peterglover@stanfordalumni.org) or Secretary Susanne Weil (360 880 8130 or susanne.beekeeper@gmail.com) 

Above, Josiah Cowin, one of LCBA's 2016 Youth in Beekeeping Scholarship students, assembes his hive boxes at LCBA Vice President Bob Harris's Rose of Sharon Farm workshop, assisted by mentor Gottfried Fritz (left) & father Joel (right). 

Below, our other Youth Scholar for 2016, Sam, assembles frames in a jig, coached by LCBA Education Coordinator Peter Glover:

LCBA's 2014 Youth Scholarship Program winners:  above, Joevanie Montalvo, & below, Mason Gaul.  Joevanie & Mason were both 11th graders at Toledo High School when they applied.

Below, a year-by-year gallery of LCBA's Youth Scholars:

 Above, 2019 Youth Scholar Damon helps open a hive at one of LCBA's workshops.

Above, 2018 Youth Scholar Austin with a frame of honey from his bees; below, 2018 Youth Scholar Caleb preparing to feed his bees a spring sugar syrup mix:

Above, Rylea Shan Powell, one of LCBA's 3 2017 Youth Scholars, puts a second hive box on her bees with guidance from mentor Gottfried Fritz.

Above, 2017 Youth Scholar Adam toting a super of honey at an LCBA workshop.

Above, 2017 Youth Scholar Emily & mentor William sharing experiences with bees at an LCBA potluck.

 Above, Josiah Cowin, one of LCBA's 2016 Youth Scholars. To read more about Josiah & his bees, click on the 2016 link, above (photo by mentor Gottfried Fritz).

Above, 2016 Youth Scholar Sam inspecting his bees on the 4th of July, 2016 (photo by dad Brian)

Above, Jana Girt, LCBA's 2015 Youth in Beekeeping Scholarship student from Onalaska High School, holds up one of her bees' well-drawn frames: April 2015.elow, Jana & mom Janelle with their newly hived Italian package bees: 

Above; Jana with her prize honey at the Southwest Washington Fair.

Below, 2014 Youth Scholar Joevanie uncaps honey frames at LCBA's honey spinning workshop, assisted by then-president Norm Switzler: