A person wearing protective clothing and a face mask working with beehives outdoors, surrounded by trees and vegetation.

BEEKEEPER OF THE YEAR AWARD

CELEBRATING OUTSTANDING BEEKEEPERS SINCE 1979

 "The Northeastern Kansas Beekeepers Association have decided to have a Beekeeper-of-the-Year award. The majority feel that this will stimulate interest in the association and be an incentive to better beekeeping. ... The points to consider are based on the successful management of his or her bees along with their efforts in promoting the growth of our association."   (Re-printed from NEKBA’s "The Bee Buzzer"  April 1980 page 7  – no author given, Editor: Maynard D. Curtis, 1861 N 32nd St., Kansas City, KS 66104)

​Each year there, is a beekeeper (or beekeepers) who stand out from the rest. Exhibiting qualities that inspire others, and helps our association, and the beekeeping industry.

An man holding bee hives.
A beekeeper wearing a white suit, gloves, and a protective veil is inspecting a beehive in a backyard garden.
An elderly woman in a yellow vest with a name tag, standing behind a table with bottles and containers, at an indoor event or expo with booths and people in the background.

PAST NEKBA BEEKEEPERS OF THE YEAR 

  • ​1980: Maynard Curtis    of Kansas City, KS

  • 1981: Willard Madole    of Kansas City, KS

  • 1990:  W.B. Johnson

  • 1991:  Marilyn Fight

  • 1992:  Louis Hollenbeck

  • 1993:  Vera Young

  • 1994:  Melissa Ostermeyer 

  • 1995:  Ed Bishop 

  • 1996:  Don Hendrickson 

  • 1997:  Wendell Ohmes 

  • 1998:  Joli Winer 

  • 1999:  Joy Young 

  • 2000:  Merlene Eads 

  • 2001:  Larry Coppinger 

  • 2002:  Becky Tipton 

  • 2003:  Kristi Sanderson 

  • 2004:  Robert Burns 

  • 2005:  Ray Morgan 

  • 2006:  Cecil Sweeney 

  • 2007:  Steve Tipton 

  • 2008:  Michael Sinclair 

  • 2009:  Ron Ward 

  • 2010:  Joli Winer 

  • 2011: (no one selected)

  • 2012: (no one selected)

  • 2013:  Al Abts 

  • 2014:  Andy Nowachek 

  • 2015: (no one selected)

  • 2016: (no one selected)

  • 2017:  Dale & Dixie Spurlin

  • 2018:  Alex & Marlene Pantos

  • 2019:  Jo Patrick

  • 2020: (no one selected)

  • 2021: Steve Messbarger

  • 2022: Cheryl Burkhead

  • 2023: John Edmonds

  • 2024: (no one selected)

  • 2025: (no one selected)