Virginia State Beekeepers Association Fall Meeting

Tentative Schedule Subject to change (TBD Titles will be updated)
Wytheville Meeting Center | October 24–26, 2025

Schedule 

Friday, October 24, 2025

• 12:00–4:00 PM | Vendor Setup (Evansham Ballroom C) & Honey Show Drop-Offs (Meeting Room 3)

• 12:00–4:00 PM | Microscopy Training with Keith Tignor (Room 2) — open to proctors & candidates; hands-on practice

• 2:00–4:00 PM | Honey Bee Gadgetry with Dr. James Wilson & VSBA Master Beekeepers (Evansham Ballroom A/B)

• 5:00 PM | Beekeeper Social & Swag Bag Stuffing Party (pizza + teamwork—everyone welcome!)

Saturday, October 25, 2025 | 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM

Master Beekeeper Program Testing — Saturday only
️ Voting: 10:00 AM–5:00 PM

• 8:30–9:00 AM | Registration, Coffee & Vendor Hall Opens (Volunteers needed)

• 8:45–9:00 AM | Opening Ceremonies (nominations from the floor accepted & ballots finalized)

Main Stage — Evansham Ballroom A/B

• 9:00–10:00 AM | Session 1 — Mike Barry (Title TBD)

• 10:00–10:30 AM | Morning Break / Vendor Browsing

• 10:30–11:30 AM | Session 2 — Dr. Michelle Flenniken The Impact of Viruses on Honey Bees at the Individual & Cellular Levels

• 11:30 AM–1:30 PM | Lunch Break (Visit Honey Show — Meeting Room 3)

• 1:30–2:30 PM | Session 3 — Dr. James Wilson Teaching About Honey Bees in Virginia: A Symposium for Educators (Resources, Success Stories & Challenges)

• 2:30–3:30 PM | Session 4 — Michael Bush A Year in a Treatment-Free Apiary

• 3:30–3:45 PM | Afternoon Break

• 3:45–4:45 PM | Session 5 — Brandon Simmons Queen Production for Pest Resistance Using Instrumental Insemination

Concurrent Sessions & Workshops

• 10:15 AM–2:15 PM | (Hold) Microscopy Workshop for MBP Prep (Meeting Room 2)

• 3:45–4:45 PM | Honey Show Workshop — Preparing Your Entry with Mary Cahill (Room 2)

Additional Activities

• 4:45–5:30 PM | Honey Show (Room 3), Vendor Visits (Ballroom C), MBP Testing continues (Meeting Room 1 & Fireside Room)

Sunday, October 26, 2025 | 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM

• 8:30–9:00 AM | Coffee & Check-In / Vendor Hall Opens

• 9:00–10:00 AM | Session 1 — Michael Bush Everything Works If You Let It

• 10:00–10:30 AM | Morning Break / Last-Call Vendor Sales

• 10:30 AM–12:00 PM | VSBA Business Meeting & State Apiarist Report (Keith Tignor) + Door Prize Drawing

• 12:00–12:15 PM | Break

• 12:15–1:15 PM | Session 2 — Ryan Williamson Nectar Management: Excluders, Swarms & the Curse of the Honey Dome

• Concurrent (Room 2) | What the Judges Are Looking For — Mary Cahill

• 1:15–3:00 PM | Master Beekeeper Awards, Election Announcements, Honey Show Awards, Door Prizes, Closing Q&A

Adjournment