Northeastern Kansas Beekeepers
AssOCIATIOn
NEKBA.ORG
Speaker Biographies:
Dr. David Peck: Since 2024 Dr. Peck has served as the Academic Advisor for the Eastern Apicultural Society's Certified Master Beekeeper program. David researches honey bee behavior and the evolutionary host-parasite relationship between bees and Varroa mites. Since completing his doctoral work in Cornell’s Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Dr. Peck has done field research and consulted to protect bees in both Newfoundland, Canada, and Anosy, Madagascar. He left Cornell to move to Greenwich, New York, where he now works for Betterbee. Dr. Peck develops and teaches classes on beekeeping and bee biology, bridges the gap between cutting-edge bee science and the beekeeping industry, and conducts research to improve our understanding of bee biology and to help keep honey bees healthy.
Queen Rearing Day - Friday, June 5. SOLD OUT
SOne of the most powerful ways to elevate your beekeeping skills is to learn how to raise your own queens. Dr. David Peck and David Burns bring years of hands-on queen-rearing experience to guide you step by step through the process. You’ll learn firsthand how to select superior stock, graft larvae, build and manage starter and finishing hives, and understand the essential biology behind successful queen rearing.
This event takes place on Friday, June 5 from 9AM to 3PM and includes lunch.
Registration is limited to 40 participants so don’t hesitate to register.
Registrants must have one (1) year of beekeeping experience and be 12+ years old, persons under 18 must have a paid adult to accompany them.
Date: Friday, June 5th , 2026. Time: 9am – 3pm
Location: Dreher Building, Douglas County Fairgrounds, 2120 Harper St. Lawrence, KS 66046
Cost: $100, includes boxed lunch and beverage.
What to Bring: Veil or bee jacket.
Registration is limited to 40 participants, so don’t wait, register now!
Click here (link) for additional information and registration. SOLD OUT
Northeastern Kansas Beekeepers Association
The Northeastern Kansas Beekeepers Association is a 501(c)5 non-profit organization.
David Burns: David started beekeeping in the early 1990s and started a beekeeping business several years later. In 2006 David began blogging and uploading beekeeping videos to YouTube. His YouTube channel has grown to around 154,000 subscribers. He also produces a weekly beekeeping podcast. In 2020 David & Sheri were approached by Rockridge press to write the book “Backyard Beekeeping: Everything You Need to Know to Start Your First Hive.” He has produced a suite of online beekeeping courses that have become very popular among new beekeepers. David produces queens, nucs and packages. To make sure beekeepers had the best and latest scientific information on bees and beekeeping, David became a Certified Master Beekeeper through the Eastern Apicultural Society (2010). He also writes a weekly column for Bee Culture Magazine.
- Tim Gogolski
Tim graduated from Kansas State University in 1982 with a degree in Natural Resource
Management. He worked for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for 32 years before retiring in 2014. Tim got his start in beekeeping by working on a Bee Keeping Boy Scout Merit Badge when he was 14. Tim has worked with bees for over 50 years and is the owner of Gogo’s Bee Company, a bee hive management service.
Dr. Judy Wu-Smart
Bee Funday 2026, Saturday June 6
2026 Funday – Saturday, June 6th Douglas County Fairgrounds, Lawrence
Join us for a day of beekeeping education and hands-on interactive sessions featuring expert guest speakers, an open teaching apiary, and value-added talks. Enjoy lunch, honey ice cream and conversation with many other beekeepers.
Our interactive sessions are designed to help all experience levels grow their beekeeping skills with hands-on learning and real conversation. These aren’t just lectures, you’ll have the chance to ask questions, share experiences, and work through real-world hive situations alongside experienced beekeepers.
The keynote address is Critical Thinking presented by David Burns. Our final thought of the day will be presented by Dr. David Peck, Collective Intelligence in Honey Bees, and the Honey Bee Dance Language.
David Burns will present on Honey Bee Nutrition: When & What to Feed Your Bees and provide an interactive session on Inspecting Your Hive and How to Accomplish it All in 12 Minutes. In addition to learning how to inspect your hive, this session will include mite sampling, lighting a smoker, and hive tool manipulation for new beekeepers. Be sure to bring your veil, bee jacket, and smoker (if you want to practice).
Dr. David Peck will present on Varroa Mite Biology and provide an interactive session on How to Apply All Sorts of Miticides, using dummy versions of many miticides to demonstrate applying treatments in either live or dummy hives.
Dr. Judy Wu-Smart will present on Honey Bee Microscopy, Bee-Friendly Policy and Advocacy Training, Hive Necropsies and What Stories the Dead Tell and provide an interactive session on Troubleshooting Hive Problems & Dealing with Troubled Queens.
Dr. Brian McCornack will present an Overview of the American Honey Institute and Their Testing Programs.
Our local, NEKBA experienced beekeepers will present on:
- Beeswax Cappings to Candles – Joli Winer & Cecil Sweeney
- Make It and Take It Soap Making – Joli Winer. An interactive session of making soap and taking home the soap you made. Class size is limited to 25 so register early!
- Catching Free Bees & Successful Swarm Trapping – Tim Gogolski. This presentation will discuss why you should consider catching swarms. You will learn how to catch swarms, build your own swarm trap and how to move swarms into their new home. The advantages to swarm trap monitoring will be discussed.
- Making Smoked Honey & Honey and Cheese Tasting – Mark Suckow. In this class I will demonstrate the method I use to smoke honey. There is much more to honey than its sweet taste especially when paired with the right cheese. We will also pair a few local honeys with local cheese. You will be able to evaluate the different flavor profiles, aromas, and textures of the cheese and how you feel the honey enhances the flavor of the cheese.
The Beekeepers First Year – Jess Popp. Jess will cover what to expect during your first year of beekeeping.
Using Technology in Your Beekeeping Practice – Matt Brandes. This presentation will review the various ways you can use technology to enhance your beekeeping practice.
Creamed Honey Workshop – Buck Bradley. This hands-on class guides you through the simple yet precise process of turning liquid honey into rich, velvety creamed honey your customers – or family – will love. You’ll learn the basic of crystallization, step–by-step techniques, common pitfalls, and how to achieve a consistently smooth texture without expensive equipment. Whether you’re a beekeeper looking to add a high-quality, value-added product to your line-up or a honey enthusiast eager to try something new, this class will give you the confidence to create a premium spreadable honey with ease.
Grow With It: Plants to Feed the Bees – Jo Patrick. Learn about nectar and pollen sources for honey bees in NE KS and Western MO. This session will be of benefit to both novice and seasoned gardeners. Jo will share what she has learned about food sources for honey bees and will provide resources you can use.
Making Splits – Kristi Sanderson. An interactive session on making splits.
An evening event will include dinner and a presentation by Prof. Amal Abdallah Mohammed about beekeeping in Jordan. This presentation will highlight local beekeeping practices, key challenges, and the importance of honey bees in Jordanian agriculture. She will also discuss bee products (including honey, pollen, propolis, royal jelly, and beeswax), their importance, and practical methods for producing them..
Funday also includes a bee photo contest and hive painting competition, the guidelines are below, so bring your best photos and best painted hives and enter the contest.
THE BUZZ WORTHY PHOTO CONTEST: Capture the buzz. Celebrate the beauty. Share the story.
Think you’ve got the perfect shot of bees in action? Whether it’s a golden drop of honey, a beekeeper at work, or a macro moment of a busy pollinator—this is your chance to shine!
🌼 Who Can Enter?
· Open to all registered Funday attendees
· Two divisions:
o Youth (17 & under)
o Adult (18 & over)
📷 Photo Guidelines
· Must be 8½ x 10 inches and matted
· Color or black & white accepted
· Must feature honey bees or any aspect of beekeeping
(Be creative—action shots, close-ups, hive life, or the art of beekeeping!)
Entries due by 8:30 AM on Funday
🏆 Awards
· 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place in each division
· Bragging rights + a little extra buzz 🐝
🌟 Judging Criteria
Photos will be judged on:
· Creativity & Originality – Show us something fresh
· Composition – Strong framing and visual balance
· Technical Quality – Focus, lighting, clarity
· Storytelling/Impact – Does your photo capture the magic of bees?
🍯 Ready to Enter?
· Grab your camera, follow the buzz, and bring your best shot—we can’t wait to see the world through your lens!
HIVE PAINTING
Share your creative hive artwork!
Who Can Enter?
· Open to all registered Funday attendees
· Two divisions:
o Youth (17 & under)
o Adult (18 & over)
Hive Guidelines
· Must feature honey bees, hive life, art of beekeeping or any aspect of beekeeping
· Entries due by 8:30 AM on Funday
🏆 Awards
· 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place in each division
· Bragging rights + a little extra buzz 🐝
🌟 Judging Criteria
Hives will be judged on:
· Creativity & Originality – Show us something fresh
· Storytelling/Impact – Does your hive capture the magic of bees?
SILENT AUCTION
Funday Silent Auction Needs Your Help
Are you spring cleaning in the honey house or garage? Did you find a few new or gently used beekeeping related items that you no longer need? Please consider donating those items for the silent auction taking place during Funday, June 6, 2026. Donating is a fun way to participate, and proceeds will be used for future NEKBA educational programs. Items large and small are appreciated. Plan on delivering your items to the Douglas County Fairgrounds, Building 21, on Friday evening, June 5th or Saturday morning, June 6th. Contact me in advance if early drop off or pick up arrangements are needed.
Jo Patrick (913) 645-8947
We are pleased to announce that we will have the following vendors in attendance:
· Beekeepers.com
· Dadant Sioux City
· Next to Nature Farm
· Unstable Apiary Designs
· Bee Better Hive Stands
· Bubba’s Bee Barns
nekba bee funday
- Mark Suckow
I am a hobby beekeeper starting my 5th year as a beekeeper. My wife and I have four hives that we manage. We have made multiple flavors of infused honey and creamed honey. I enjoy barbequing and smoking so I have expanded into making smoked honey on my home smoker.
To make Funday 2026 a successful event, we will need many volunteers.
Please click on the link or QR code and you will be directed to our volunteer sign-up form. At the actual form, you can select the volunteer slot you are interested in and sign-up.
Thank you for volunteering and for making Funday a success. If you have any questions, please call or text Milisa Suckow at 816-820-7923. https://www.signupgenius.com/
GOOD FELLOWSHIP & GOOD BEEKEEPING
Prof. Amal Abdallah Mohammed is a Professor of Apiculture at Al-Balqa Applied University (BAU), Jordan, with extensive experience in teaching and research in honey bee biology, health, and sustainable beekeeping management. She previously served as the Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural Technology and is currently the Dean of Scientific Research and Innovation at BAU. Prof. Mohammed has received support for and contributed to several international projects focused on sustainable agriculture, research development, and innovation. She has been invited as a keynote speaker at numerous scientific conferences and professional events across several Arab countries, sharing expertise in apiculture, pollinator health, and the importance of bees for food security and ecosystem sustainability. She is currently a Visiting Research Scholar at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Bee Lab, hosted by Dr. Judy Wu-Smart, where she is engaged in research collaboration and outreach activities related to honey bee health and management.
- Kristi Sanderson
Kristi began keeping bees in 1988 as a student at MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe Kansas.After graduating her enthusiasm grew and she continued learning through local clubs and working for a bee supply company. She grew her business Sweet Prairie Honey by adding hives and selling honey. Eventually she learned how to make creamed honey from a local beekeeper and attended value added workshops in Nebraska to learn about other products made with honey and beeswax. This enabled her to sell soaps, lotions, balms and flavored creamed honeys along with liquid honey. In 2006 she obtained a Masters Beekeeping certificate from the Eastern Apiculture Society (EAS). A few years later she obtained a second masters certificate from University of Nebraska -Lincoln (UNL) Mid-West Master Beekeepers program. She has just completed her third masters certificate through The Great Plains Master Beekeeping program (GPMB). She is active in the Northeastern Kansas Beekeepers Association (NEKBA) and the Kansas Honey Producers Association (KHPA) giving talks and coordinating the honey booth for the Kansas State Fair. Kristi now operates a mentoring service for beekeepers in the Kansas City area and enjoys sharing her enthusiasm and knowledge of bees with beekeepers.
Bee Funday 2026 - See you Saturday, June 6
Please join us for our annual educational and fun event for beekeepers and those wanting to explore beekeeping. This year’s event includes presentations and interactive sessions. Vendors will be on-site as well as a silent auction. Added this year is a Queen Rearing Day that will take place the day before on Friday, June 5 taught by 2 of the country's leading beekeepers.
If you have questions or you would like to be a vendor, please call, text, or email Milisa Suckow
at 816-820-7923.
Dr. David Peck
- Jo Patrick
Beekeeping caught Jo’s interest when she visited her sister’s newly acquired bee hives in the early 2000’s. She found herself going back repeatedly to help her sister. Jo quickly realized that everything she had learned studying horticulture in the 1970’s didn’t benefit honey bees and pollinators. Jo gained a new perspective about the connection between plants and honey bees. In 2009, Jo acquired her first colonies and joined NEKBA. She is the current Honey Plants Vice President for NEKBA and is a member of the Kansas Honey Producers where she is serving as newsletter editor and is the Northeast Kansas Area Representative.
Date: Saturday, June 6th , 2026 Time: 8am – 5pm Location: Douglas County Fairgrounds, 2120 Harper St. Lawrence, KS 66046 Cost: $50, includes lunch, beverage and honey ice cream.
Click here (link) for additional information and registration. 2026 Funday Schedule for the day.
If you have questions or you would like to be a vendor, please call, text, or email Milisa Suckow at 816-820-7923.
- Buck Bradley
Buck Bradley is the owner of Buck’s Honey Bee Company in Douglas County, Kansas. A retired U.S. Marine, Buck manages over 50 hives and produces local honey, infused honey, comb honey, and a variety of bee-based products. He offers hive rentals, hosts hands-on honey extraction events, and sells nucleus colonies. Buck also manages an 8-acre pollinator plot with support from the Bee and Butterfly Habitat Fund and has been involved in efforts around HB2158, helping small-scale beekeepers sell honey without the barrier of a commercial kitchen. At the end of the day, Buck’s mission is simple: make beekeeping more accessible, more sustainable, and a little less intimidating for the next generation.
www.buckshoneybeecompany.com
David Burns
Looking for a hotel to stay at in Lawrence for the 2026 Bee Funday?
We have a block of rooms available. Ask for special Beekeeping Funday rates or make your reservation on-line! Holiday Inn Express & Suites Lawrence, KS 3411 S.W. Iowa St, Lawrence, KS Phone: 785-749-7555
Mention Beekeepers Meeting when calling to make reservations or enter when making online reservations.
Funday includes expert guest speakers David Burns, Dr. David Peck, Dr. Judy Wu-Smart and Dr. Brian McCornack. Value-added talks and presentations from local NEKBA experienced beekeepers..
Dr. Judy Wu-Smart (Associate Professor & Extension Specialist) received her MS at Washington State University under the advisement of Drs. Steve Sheppard and Carol Anelli and a PhD from University of Minnesota with Dr. Marla Spivak. She has been the director of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Bee Lab since 2015. At UNL, she and her team have been developing a robust pollinator health program for the Midwest region to help beekeepers, scientists, policy makers, and land managers understand the underlying stressors challenging bee health, such as improper management of pests and diseases and exposure to pesticides. Community engagement and promoting science literacy around these complicated farm-to-table issues are also key components of her research and extension education programs.
Parking your RV or travel trailers will be allowed on the Douglas County Fairgrounds
There are sixteen sites that have electricity (30 amp or 50 amp each), NO water, parked on gravel, and the cost is $15 per night. There are eight sites that do NOT have electricity or water, parked on dirt/grass and there is no cost for these sites. You will need to make reservations for the sites. Contact Paige Vannicola at pvannicola@dgcoks.gov and provide her your arrival date and departure date. Paige will send you an electronic invoice that will need to be paid by credit card. If you have questions for Paige, she can also be reached by telephone at 785-832-5296.
- Matt Brandes
Matthew is an EAS Master Beekeeper with 5+ years of beekeeping experience. He and his wife Sandi maintain 25 hives in rural NE Kansas. He has a passion for technology and is putting it to use in his own apiary.
- Jess Popp
Jessica Popp is a passionate beekeeper dedicated to nurturing bees and bee enthusiasts alike. Jess is Vice President of BEEKEEPERS.COM, the assistant teacher of beekeeping at JCCC, is the President of the Northeast Kansas Beekeepers Association, Editor for Midwestern Beekeepers Association and currently manages over 30 hives. With her expertise, warmth, and dedication to the world of bees, Jess continues to make a sweet difference in her community and beyond.
Date: Saturday, June 6th , 2026 Time: 8am – 5pm
Location: Douglas County Fairgrounds, 2120 Harper St. Lawrence, KS 66046
Cost: $50, includes lunch, beverage and honey ice cream.
Click here (link) for additional information and registration. 2026 Funday Schedule for the day.