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  • From: "Janet Austin" <jcaustin AT visionet.org>
  • To: "'Orange County, NC Beekeepers'" <ocba AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [ocba] State fair booth
  • Date: Sat, 23 Sep 2006 12:10:55 -0400

Another bit of "food for thought": For the general public, I think info such
as found in the OCBA brochure is good, i.e., "the value of beekeeping": #1
is pollination ("if you like fruit and vegetables, thank a beekeeper!").
Since the fair has all sorts of crop displays in the same building that we
will be in, this is a great place to make that association in people's
minds.
I think the message that "honey bees are in trouble" is good to impress upon
the public too, but agree that it would not be appropriate to get into
chemical treatments. You don't see Sevin and other pesticides in the
strawberry and blueberry displays....

The "in trouble" message is secondary to the "very important" message.

Maybe some sort of visual representation showing the sharp drop in the
number of beekeepers and managed hives over the past 30 years would be a
good message.

And of course we should show the "sweet side" of things and how that all
comes about.
The first thing for the team to do is define the story that the display will
tell (what is the take-away message?), and then how to tell it. I think the
major value of a display in the context of the State Fair is to inspire
appreciation for what beekeepers do, rather than teach people how to do
beekeeping.

Thanks to all who are working to make this happen!

Randall Austin


-----Original Message-----
From: ocba-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:ocba-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org]
On Behalf Of Becky Bollinger
Sent: Saturday, September 23, 2006 11:30 AM
To: Orange County, NC Beekeepers
Subject: Re: [ocba] State fair booth


How about meeting early in the week. I have a pretty open schedule so
anytime is fine with me. What times are good for you guys. Also, where
should we meet? I would offer my house but my brother and his two dogs are
staying with us right now and it is a bit crowded. Does someone mind
offering their place? Another option is meeting somewhere like a restaurant.
Either way the sooner the better, so we can map out a plan. Just let me know
what works for you.

I like the idea of displaying the equipment that is used in beekeeping, but
I also don't like the idea of displaying the chemical treatments. I don't
use them and believe we should promote more natural ways, but that is just
me. We can definitely debate this out more when we meet. The power point
slide show sounds like a good idea too. I will need to check with Don to see
if that would work in the set up we have. If we can not do that we could
have members of the club submit blown up pictures and do write ups about
what is in the picture beside it. Also, if the pics were mounted they would
be eligible for the judging. I will bring the premier book rules for the
display when we meet. The display as a whole is judged on attractiveness and
educational value. Also, individual items such as pictures, honey, wax, etc.
are also judged.

Some other information I have found out from Don is the booths will be
provided. He said they use what they call hockey platforms. If anyone was at
the fair last year and saw the displays, that is similar to what we will be
doing this year. Of course it is in a different space so it may be
different. They may have the wall to use in the new space. The table top is
about 8X6 feet, but he said could be as narrow as 4ft. There is a backdrop
we could use from the state or Jeff Knight has one he is willing to let us
use with back lighting (we would have to drive to get it though). There
will probably be a fence about 2 ft away from the display, so people would
not be right on top of it. He did say if we display anything really valuable
you may want to put in the back of the display. We are also allowed to put
up a banner that has our club name on it. We just have to have it covered
during the judging or put it up after the judging. I think this would be a
great and as David suggested we could use it again at our meetings.

I hope this is clear enough and not too drawn out. I will bring all of this
info to the meeting as well. Let me know if you have any other questions and
I can relay them to Don.

Thanks for all of the ideas and help and just let me know as soon as
possible when is a good time for you guys to meet.

Becky



On 9/23/06, Tom Wright <tomw AT nc.rr.com> wrote:
>
> You're right there, John, but I do think people need to know about
> some of the threats faced by beekeepers. Everyone knows about the
> Africanized bees, but who knows about hive beetles? Maybe talk about
> treatments, but emphasize Integrated Pest Management and natural
> products.
>
> Tom Wright
>
>
> john wallace wrote:
>
> THE GENERAL PUBLIC DOES NOT NEED TO ASSOCIATE HONEY WITH CHEMICALS!!!
> RETHINK DISPLAYS OF HONEY AND THEIR MEDICATIONS. JOHN WALLACE
>
>
>
> From: Tom Wright <tomw AT nc.rr.com>
> Reply-To: "Orange County, NC Beekeepers" <ocba AT lists.ibiblio.org>
> To: "Orange County, NC Beekeepers" <ocba AT lists.ibiblio.org>
> Subject: Re: [ocba] State fair booth
> Date: Sat, 23 Sep 2006 10:20:23 -0400
>
> Hi everyone:
>
> Sorry I couldn't jump in sooner, but it was busy week.
>
> My thought is to set up more of a "working" display, showing the tools
> of the trade: boxes, tools, woodware, smokers, veils, boxes of
> Checkmite, Apistan, etc. People are accustomed to seeing all the
> pretty displays of honey jars, spun honey, wax, etc. Most people have
> no idea how involved beekeeping is, and this would be a very good way
> for them to find out. For instance, how many people know that bees are
> classified as "livestock?" As such, they're like any other
> animal--they get sick, they need to be fed and watered, etc.
>
> Maybe have a hand-cranked centrifuge (which I have) and a few frames
> and let people (kids?) spin out some honey. How abou a full super with
> honey, so people know what beekeepers go though harvesting honey.
>
> I also have some presentation material that could go up on a wall.
> Could anybody do a PowerPoint slideshow to run in the background,
> maybe with pictures that members took? (Ahem, Jeff B?...)
>
> Let me know about a meeting? We don't have a lot of time, and this is
> at the top of my list of things to do!
>
> Tom
> (cell #201-0892)
>
> Tom Wright wrote:
>
>
>
> Elisabeth Curtis wrote:
>
>
>
> I am very new to beekeeping and don't feel I have much to offer --
> certainly not any "products." But I recently took bee equipment to a
> friend and neighbor's KG class that had been studying bees and gave a
> half-hour presentation on beekeeping, and I wondered if any folks have
> materials that can be used to get kids interested in bees that could
> be part of the presentation. It might let people know that there are
> people out there who are willing to come to classes, etc. I'm thinking
> kids books, videos, enlarged pictures, stuff like that. Since doing
> the class yesterday I have received one wonderful thank you poster and
> two more invitations to talk to classes, so in addition to using it
> for the booth, I personally would be interested in what other people
> have found effective when doing this sort of thing. Just a thought . .
> . -Elisabeth Curtis
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Becky Bollinger"
> <beckyalis AT gmail.com>
> To: "Orange County, NC Beekeepers" <ocba AT lists.ibiblio.org>
> Sent: Thursday, September 21, 2006 10:01 AM
> Subject: [ocba] State fair booth
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Hi Everyone,
> So far Tom Wright, Ken Krebs, and David Langham have offered to help
> with the state fair booth. I wanted to see if anyone else is
> interested in helping. I plan on setting up a meeting for us to get
> together and discuss the project in more detail. This is going to be a
> lot of fun and a great way to show people about beekeeping. Anyways,
> just let me know. I plan on trying to set up a meeting soon, since we
> don't have too much time. Thanks,
> Becky
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Becky Bollinger <beckyalis AT gmail.com>
> Date: Sep 18, 2006 10:22 AM
> Subject: State fair booth
> To: "Orange County, NC Beekeepers" <ocba AT lists.ibiblio.org>
>
>
> Hello Everyone,
>
> At our last meeting Don Hopkins presented the idea of our club doing a
> booth display at the state fair. If any of you went to the fair last
> year, you will remember the presidents booth across from where the bee
> booth was. Well we have all of that space to fill up this year. So Don
> thought we could do a booth as a club. I think this is something we
> could do if enough members are willing to participate by supplying
> products. If enough people participate, you should only have to
> provide a few things each. I am forwarding on an email that Jennifer
> Keller sent me with more details about the booth and what it should
> include. There are also some pictures of previous displays. Since it
> is such short notice they are not expecting anything too fancy. We
> would just need to set it up the day before the fair starts which I
> think is the 14th and probably disassemble it after the fair is over.
> If all of you could think about it and respond with what you could
> contribute, as soon as possible, I would appreciate it. Again, I think
> it won't be too bad if a lot of us participate. This would also be
> something we could use towards our Golden Achievement Points.
>
> Thanks
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: jen k <jenjkeller AT yahoo.com>
> Date: Sep 15, 2006 12:12 PM
> Subject: state fair pictures
> To: Jeff Bollinger <jeff01 AT email.unc.edu>
>
>
> I know it is very short notice, and your booth probably wouldn't look
> quite so elaborate, but I think you guys could come up with a very
> nice display. Remember that there is a backdrop available for use if
> you want it.
>
> A brief description of some of the items in the pictures... -honey is
> obviously the focal point...there is honey in jars, junk honey in jars
> and comb honey in plastic boxes. -gift baskets is a category.
> -wax has several categories...the large bowl-like pieces are in one
> category, the candles are one, and then there are wax figurines (not
> candles) as a separte category.
> -In front of the displays are complete frames of honey in a display box.
> -also in front on the left display is their photography exhibit.
> -on the middle display is a good example of the pictures of honey plants
> other items being displayed are honey candy, books, hive tool, smoker
> bee journals, veil, mead.......
>
> Anyway, I hope this gives you a better idea of what a booth may
> consist of. I am also going to put at the end of this message the link
> for the state fair book which has the rules and guidelines to follow.
> Everything on the list in the book under categories is something that
> your club could put on the table to be be judged, but it is not
> necessary to include every single category. Do what you can. Also Don
> forgot to mention that there are cash awards for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd
> place in just about every category (not much, but better than
> nothing).
>
> The website is
> http://www.ncstatefair.org/2006/PremiumBook/2006DeptI.pdf
>
> Let me know if I can help in any way, and I am sure that Don would
> also be willing to help, although he may get busy setting up at the
> fair. If you have any questions, give me a call at 513-7702 (work) or
> 609-2252 (home) or email.
>
> Jennifer
>
>
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> ----------
>
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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> North Carolina Beekeeping
> http://www.theocba.org/
>
>
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> North Carolina Beekeeping
> http://www.theocba.org/
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Thomas Wright of the OCBA has a presentation suitable for KG,
> although a few of the vu-graphs will be beyond them. These can be
> removed. There is also a suggested narrative. With kids that age, the
> more "hands on" you have, such as comb, a piece of beeswax, and
> mounted bees (worker, queen, drone, the better. Bee supply companies
> sell an acrylic block with these, in addition to larvae and pupae.
> Mounted honeybees, bumblebees, wasps, and hornets/yellowjackets, and
> mud daubers are good to teach the kids the difference, In season, you
> can take live specimens in baby food jars.
>
> NHB has a good video that is free if you request on school or OCBA
> letterhead.
>
> Tom Wright
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
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