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2026 Illinois State Beekeepers Association Summer Meeting
will be hosted by the
Prairie State Beekeepers
June 12th - 13th, 2026
will be hosted by the
Prairie State Beekeepers
June 12th - 13th, 2026
CEU Credits can be earned through this training and will be processed by Lincoln Land Community College. There will be a $15.00 processing fee that needs to be paid at registration.
Want to attend the conference but not sure what to do with the kids?
There are two options:
Option 1:
Lincoln Land Community College will be hosting youth breakout sessions during the conference for Grades 3-6.
(9 a.m.-12 p.m.) Hive Five! Exploring Bees Through Art & Science (Grades 3-6)
(9 a.m.-12 p.m.) Smells, Sounds, and Sweet Surprises: Exploring the Science of Bees (Grades 3-6)
(1 p.m.-4 p.m.) Bee Inspired! Creating, Crafting, and Exploring Pollinators (Grades 3-6)
(1 p.m.-4 p.m.) BEEyond the Hive! Science & Creativity Camp (Grades 3-6)
General public session price is $39 ($24 per session for conference attendees who use the promo code) Conference attendees receive $15 off registration by using promo code ISBA15 at checkout.
LLCC Community Education College for Kids - 2026 ISBA Summer Meeting- Youth Breakout Session Information and Registration
Option 2:
Daycare will be available onsite for a fee of $25.00 per child (Ages 13 and Under), payable at registration.
Location
Lincoln Land Community College at the Lincoln Commons with hands on presentations with hives from the
West Lake Nature Grove Apiary
West Lake Nature Grove Apiary
Accommodations
A block of rooms has been reserved and discounted at the
Country Inn and Suites
3092 Adlai Stevenson Drive
Springfield, IL 62703
(217)544-4515
Country Inn and Suites
3092 Adlai Stevenson Drive
Springfield, IL 62703
(217)544-4515
Topics
Beekeeping Conference Schedule Friday & Saturday Programs
Room assignments to be announced
Friday Evening Program
8:00–9:00 PM — Mead & Beer Panel Discussion
Panelists: Tom Skelly (Mead) and Terrence Hall (Beer)
• Using honey in fermentation
• Flavor profiles
• Common mistakes
• Audience Q&A
9:00 PM — Social Hour
Note: Taste testing available at Bald Buddha (formerly Capital City Brewing).
Participants must be 21+.
Saturday Program
7:30–8:20 AM
Registration & Continental Breakfast
8:20–9:00 AM — Opening Session (Single Track)
• ISBA Officers — Welcoming Message
• Charles Dadant — Dadant and Sons Welcome Message
9:00–10:00 AM — Concurrent Sessions
• Dr. Jason Williams — The Value of Bees Outside of Agriculture
• Rich Ramsey — Creating items with Beeswax
• Tom Pankonen — How Not to Buy Bees: Understanding Nucs
• Tim Lindley — Managing Bees in Cooperation with Regenerative Farming Techniques
• Arvin Pierce — Treatment-Free Beekeeping
10:00–11:00 AM — Concurrent Sessions
• Pam Carter — How to Show Honey in a Honey Show
• Ken Kloepper — Anticipating Bees in Southern Illinois
• David Burns — Queen Rearing
• Tera Kepraun — Creamed Honey
• Larry Krengle — Harmonious Swarming
• Dave Cox — Beekeeping for Educators
11:00 AM–2:00 PM — Live Onsite Apiary Presentations
Live, rotating hands-on demonstrations led by experienced regional beekeepers.
Presentations repeat to allow attendee rotation.
Topics include:
• Reading a frame
• Working a colony
• Making a nuc
• Catching, holding, marking, and clipping a queen
• OTS (On-The-Spot) method
• Winterization
• Feeding
• Queen rearing
Lunch will take place during this time (11:00-2:00).
2:00–3:00 PM — Concurrent Sessions
• Luke Harvey — Sidelining as a Business
• Tera Kepraun — Creamed Honey
• David Burns — Successful Queen Replacement
• Tim Lindley — Keeping Bees in Southern Illinois
• Pam Carter — How to Show Honey in a Honey Show
• Melissa Gerard — Using Beeswax to Make Lip Balm
• Hands-on workshop
• Runs 2:00–4:00 PM
• $10 materials fee applies
3:00–4:00 PM — Concurrent Sessions
• Tom Pankonen — Common Beginner Mistakes
• Arvin Pierce — Treatment-Free Beekeeping
• Dr. Larry Connor — Topic TBD (tentative)
• Dave Meyers — Topic TBD (tentative)
• President’s Meeting — Proficiencies in Beekeeping for Illinois
• Melissa Gerard workshop continues until 4:00 PM
4:00–4:30 PM - No scheduled sessions (transition break)
4:30–5:30 PM — Closing Session (Single Track)
Panel Discussion & Q&A featuring:
• Rich Ramsey
• Luke Harvey
• Arvin Pierce
Room assignments to be announced
Friday Evening Program
8:00–9:00 PM — Mead & Beer Panel Discussion
Panelists: Tom Skelly (Mead) and Terrence Hall (Beer)
• Using honey in fermentation
• Flavor profiles
• Common mistakes
• Audience Q&A
9:00 PM — Social Hour
Note: Taste testing available at Bald Buddha (formerly Capital City Brewing).
Participants must be 21+.
Saturday Program
7:30–8:20 AM
Registration & Continental Breakfast
8:20–9:00 AM — Opening Session (Single Track)
• ISBA Officers — Welcoming Message
• Charles Dadant — Dadant and Sons Welcome Message
9:00–10:00 AM — Concurrent Sessions
• Dr. Jason Williams — The Value of Bees Outside of Agriculture
• Rich Ramsey — Creating items with Beeswax
• Tom Pankonen — How Not to Buy Bees: Understanding Nucs
• Tim Lindley — Managing Bees in Cooperation with Regenerative Farming Techniques
• Arvin Pierce — Treatment-Free Beekeeping
10:00–11:00 AM — Concurrent Sessions
• Pam Carter — How to Show Honey in a Honey Show
• Ken Kloepper — Anticipating Bees in Southern Illinois
• David Burns — Queen Rearing
• Tera Kepraun — Creamed Honey
• Larry Krengle — Harmonious Swarming
• Dave Cox — Beekeeping for Educators
11:00 AM–2:00 PM — Live Onsite Apiary Presentations
Live, rotating hands-on demonstrations led by experienced regional beekeepers.
Presentations repeat to allow attendee rotation.
Topics include:
• Reading a frame
• Working a colony
• Making a nuc
• Catching, holding, marking, and clipping a queen
• OTS (On-The-Spot) method
• Winterization
• Feeding
• Queen rearing
Lunch will take place during this time (11:00-2:00).
2:00–3:00 PM — Concurrent Sessions
• Luke Harvey — Sidelining as a Business
• Tera Kepraun — Creamed Honey
• David Burns — Successful Queen Replacement
• Tim Lindley — Keeping Bees in Southern Illinois
• Pam Carter — How to Show Honey in a Honey Show
• Melissa Gerard — Using Beeswax to Make Lip Balm
• Hands-on workshop
• Runs 2:00–4:00 PM
• $10 materials fee applies
3:00–4:00 PM — Concurrent Sessions
• Tom Pankonen — Common Beginner Mistakes
• Arvin Pierce — Treatment-Free Beekeeping
• Dr. Larry Connor — Topic TBD (tentative)
• Dave Meyers — Topic TBD (tentative)
• President’s Meeting — Proficiencies in Beekeeping for Illinois
• Melissa Gerard workshop continues until 4:00 PM
4:00–4:30 PM - No scheduled sessions (transition break)
4:30–5:30 PM — Closing Session (Single Track)
Panel Discussion & Q&A featuring:
• Rich Ramsey
• Luke Harvey
• Arvin Pierce
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