From Alaska to Texas, California to New York, and Nebraska to the Virgin Islands–all of the United States has beekeepers. Beekeeping is found throughout the world13. It has captivated many individuals, whether they become hobbyists, commercial beekeepers, or simply apiculture enthusiasts like me.
I have a great interest in all living things whether that be animals, plants, or fungi. Pollinators, of which bees are the forefront, are an important part of any ecology for pollinating plants and allowing them to reproduce14. After learning more about bees, honey bees in particular, I became more and more interested in apiculture, or the practice of keeping bees. I do not currently have any bees. Through my research about beekeeping, I learned of a grant that would allow me to receive bees, a hive, equipment and classes for beekeeping. I am hoping to apply for this grant later this year. There are also several beekeepers in my area, one who is a commercial beekeeper, that I could shadow to learn how to raise bees in a hands-on environment.
In the United States there are between 115,000 and 125,000 beekeepers, with the average age of beekeepers being between 55 and 66 years old2,3. There is a growing concern that the beekeeping industry is aging; however, a surge in interest is currently occurring in the United States4,5. This surge comes from an awareness of beekeeping and the important role honey bees play in pollination. Youth are the next generation of beekeepers, and it is important to raise awareness and interest in
beekeeping and environmental stewardship. Without young people coming into beekeeping, pollination of crucial crops could be in jeopardy.
Young beekeepers also bring a fresh perspective and innovative approaches to the industry. Youth often utilize technology and social media to engage with their community and address challenges such as addressing bee health issues. Young people coming into the industry are vital for rejuvenation of the beekeeping industry5.
4-H members make a difference through learning and practicing beekeeping, educating others and supporting healthy ecosystems1. Beekeeping also promotes skills such as hard work, constant learning, and ingenuity that can be used throughout life2,15.
Through 4-H, youth can learn through beekeeping classes, books and personal experience. This facilitates the ability of youth to educate others. 4-H members can educate others through presentations, in-person workshops and mentoring someone who is new to beekeeping, further promoting apiculture. Through keeping bees, 4-H members promote a healthy ecosystem by providing important pollinators to the environment. In the United States, about 75% of plants are reliant on insects for pollination, and bees are the most important pollinators 12. Almost 80% of crops in the United States rely on honey bees for pollination14,17. Through pollinating a wide variety of plants, bees promote biodiversity and create a more resilient ecosystem14,18. In these ways, 4-H members who keep honey bees do not only make a difference in the community but also in the world.
Several associations and scholarships are available to help get young people started in beekeeping. States such as Nebraska, Iowa, Arkansas, and Ohio have grants that set up youth with equipment and a hive19,20. Other than scholarships, shadowing
with a local beekeeper gives young people the ability to explore beekeeping and the responsibilities involved21. Another way that youth can get involved in beekeeping is to set up beehives at schools or 4-H Extension offices. This allows youth to learn how to take care of bees and see them on a daily basis22. Attending classes on beekeeping can get young people interested and let them learn more about caring for honey bees; many of these classes can be found at a low cost or reduced in cost by scholarships. If classes are small enough, hands-on classes are a way to introduce youth and get them involved in beekeeping11.
Young beekeepers have brought important contributions to the beekeeping industry. One example is 16-year-old Keith Griffith lll who created Beeing2gether7,8. This company not only sells honey but has impacted the industry by promoting beekeeping in Louisville, Kentucky. This company contributes to the beekeeping industry by promoting and setting up new beekeepers. Beeing2gether also promotes the importance of pollinators. Elizabeth Walsh is another example of a young person who is impacting the beekeeping industry9. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship in 2022. She studies honeybee health challenges, behavior, breeding, genetics, physiology, and honey bee disease ecology. Her research will impact the beekeeping industry for generations. Studies in breeding and genetics will allow more hardy and productive bees to be bred and distributed10. Walsh’s studies in health challenges, physiology and disease ecology allows better pest and disease management practices to be developed12.
Through writing this essay, I hope to show my interest in apiculture, why youth are important in beekeeping, how 4-H members specifically impact their community
through beekeeping, how youth can get involved, and ways that young people have already contributed to the beekeeping industry. I hope that in the future I will be able to share my knowledge about honey bees and beekeeping, so that I can positively impact my community through involvement in this industry.
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