|
As of 6/14/2026
|
|
Thanks and sincere appreciation to all the attendees, presenters and vendors at the 2026 ISBA Summer Meeting which was held in the Central region this year. The meeting was hosted by Prairie State Beekeepers and LLCC at Lincoln Land Community College Campus.
The work and planning poured into the 2026 Summer Meeting by Prairie State members and the venue (Lincoln Land Community College) staff resulted in a well run meeting.
The indoor sessions/presentations were spread between the Menard and Sangamon Halls and there were 3 outdoor live hive presentations (beginner, intermediate and advanced) using colonies which had been transported from the West Nature Grove Apiary the day before.
Since the all day meeting was spread across a much larger physical footprint than most previous summer meetings, the two campus maps and agenda which listed the locations and times of all the sessions was appreciated by the attendees. There were also Prairie State members and some campus staff strategically positioned to direct attendees to the sessions they were wanted to attend. The LLCC campus IT staff also quickly resolved any technical glitches which surfaced
There were plenty of complimentary bottles of water for the attendees as well as morning and afternoon treats (Krispy Crème donuts, protein snack bars, fresh fruit etc).
The cookies and honey ice cream produced by the LLCC Culinary Dept were excellent!
They quickly adapted to a last minute no show of a few presenters and 1 vendor.
Pictures will be forthcoming in the future thanks to a few willing beekeepers who roamed taking pics with their digital cameras throughout the day.
The Summer meeting rotates between one of the 3 regions each year.
In 2027, the Summer meeting will be in the Southern region and then to the Northern Region in 2028.
For 2027, an ISBA affiliated association interested in being considered as a host for the Southern Region should contact the Southern Region Director or any of the other ISBA officers/directors.
Planning is already underway for the Annual Fall Meeting in November 2026
The work and planning poured into the 2026 Summer Meeting by Prairie State members and the venue (Lincoln Land Community College) staff resulted in a well run meeting.
The indoor sessions/presentations were spread between the Menard and Sangamon Halls and there were 3 outdoor live hive presentations (beginner, intermediate and advanced) using colonies which had been transported from the West Nature Grove Apiary the day before.
Since the all day meeting was spread across a much larger physical footprint than most previous summer meetings, the two campus maps and agenda which listed the locations and times of all the sessions was appreciated by the attendees. There were also Prairie State members and some campus staff strategically positioned to direct attendees to the sessions they were wanted to attend. The LLCC campus IT staff also quickly resolved any technical glitches which surfaced
There were plenty of complimentary bottles of water for the attendees as well as morning and afternoon treats (Krispy Crème donuts, protein snack bars, fresh fruit etc).
The cookies and honey ice cream produced by the LLCC Culinary Dept were excellent!
They quickly adapted to a last minute no show of a few presenters and 1 vendor.
Pictures will be forthcoming in the future thanks to a few willing beekeepers who roamed taking pics with their digital cameras throughout the day.
The Summer meeting rotates between one of the 3 regions each year.
In 2027, the Summer meeting will be in the Southern region and then to the Northern Region in 2028.
For 2027, an ISBA affiliated association interested in being considered as a host for the Southern Region should contact the Southern Region Director or any of the other ISBA officers/directors.
Planning is already underway for the Annual Fall Meeting in November 2026
The FY2025 Illinois Dept of Agriculture Apiary Report to the Governor and the ISBA is available at the below link on our website as are past reports dating back to 2004.
IDoA Annual Apiary Report
IDoA Annual Apiary Report
Check out the Summary of Events page for educational opportunities which we have been made aware of.
If there is an educational opportunity your ISBA affiliated beekeeping association is conducting or sponsoring, please send the information via email to the ISBA webmaster, Steve Petrilli at [email protected] for consideration and publication on the ISBA Summary of Events page of the website.
If the timing permits, it may also be published in the next issue of the ISBA Bulletin.
If there is an educational opportunity your ISBA affiliated beekeeping association is conducting or sponsoring, please send the information via email to the ISBA webmaster, Steve Petrilli at [email protected] for consideration and publication on the ISBA Summary of Events page of the website.
If the timing permits, it may also be published in the next issue of the ISBA Bulletin.
An email campaign was sent out on 10//7/2025 to all ISBA members we have email addresses for.
If you have not received an email from [email protected] in your inbox, check your spam or junk folders and mark the email as not spam or junk. It should let your email client know it is not junk and future emails should go to your inbox
Gmail may also put the email in the forums tab instead of your inbox or primary folder or may even put it in the updates tab. Move the email from the forums tab or updates tab to let Gmail know to direct it to your inbox.
If you have not received an email from [email protected] in your inbox, check your spam or junk folders and mark the email as not spam or junk. It should let your email client know it is not junk and future emails should go to your inbox
Gmail may also put the email in the forums tab instead of your inbox or primary folder or may even put it in the updates tab. Move the email from the forums tab or updates tab to let Gmail know to direct it to your inbox.
If your beekeeping association has a change of officers or directors for 2026....
- Please email the respective contact information for the officers and/or directors to be listed on the Affiliate Associations page for your association to Steve Petrilli: [email protected]
- If your association has a website, please ensure the new officer information is listed on your website so it can be verified. If your association does not have a website or if your website is not updated, the submitted information, it will need to be verified before the ISBA website is updated.
- If you have not defined your apiary (bee yard) locations to Beecheck.org, you should!
- It is free to create an account on Beecheck.org and register (define) all of your bee yard locations.
- The annual renewal is also free.
- You can access Beecheck via a browser or the new app recently available for Apple and Android devices
If you are growing specialty crops you should define those locations on the Driftwatch.org side.
Licensed and responsible applicators (aerial or ground) are supposed the check for any bee yards or specialty crops near the area of application.
The Beecheck.org site has links to the Driftwatch site for the specialty crop grower and links to the Fieldcheck side of Driftwatch where licensed applicators should register.
- If you accidently or intentionally unsubscribed from ISBA emails, we cannot send you another email until you opt back in to receive them.
- You can opt back in to receive emails by clicking here and completing the form.
|
EpiPen® (epinephrine) Savings Card | Save up to $300 on a 2-pak
|
A prescription from your doctor is required to obtain an Epipen. Most doctors will write an Epipen Rx for you if they are aware you are a beekeeper.
Mylan, the manufacturer of the Epipen and Epipen Jr is offering a savings card for 2026 which can save you up to $300 for each 2-pak. They also offer a $25 discount card on a generic version. Not all insurance plans qualify, but if yours does, it is worth the time to visit the Mylan site at the below link to ascertain if your insurance does qualify:
https://www.epipen.com/
https://www.epipen.com/