The Environmental Institute at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College (FDLTCC) and the Northeast Minnesota Beekeepers Association (NEMNBA) were excited to invite the community to the 2024 Bee Symposium at FDLTCC. During the in-person event, participants learned everything from beginning beekeeping to pest and disease management.

“We were so excited this year to host two internationally known pollinator experts. Dr. Marla Spivak, founder of the University of Minnesota Bee Lab, and Dr. Judy Wu Smart, founder of the Bee Lab at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, [joined] us for a great day of learning and networking,” shared Courtney Kowalczak, director of the Environmental Institute at FDLTCC. “We had vendor and information tables as well as some great door prizes. This day had something for everyone, from beginning to experienced beekeeper or someone that just wants to learn more about pollinators!”

Besides the slate of guest speakers, there were vendors and information tables about beekeeping. NEMNBA played a central role throughout the symposium.

“NEMNBA has been a resource for many aspiring beekeepers, of a wide range of experience, in this region for nearly 30 years. Consisting of nearly 200 single and family memberships, our mission is to build a sustainable future, one pollinated flower at a time, and to support the efforts of other like-minded organizations whenever possible,” shared Jeffrey Tibbetts, Title III coordinator at FDLTCC and NEMNBA president. “We were happy to co-sponsor the 2024 Bee Symposium with FDLTCC to provide new ideas and techniques to beekeepers and information sharing on how to foster the health of all pollinators in our area.”