The Fairfield County Beekeepers Association was formed in early 2019 following an informational / interest meeting held in January 2019 at the Fairfield County Public Library.  A few local beekeepers, with the assistance of Ohio State Beekeepers Association, sent out 300 postcards to registered beekeepers within a 15 mile radius of Lancaster, inviting them to a formational meeting.  Over 70 interested beekeepers showed up at this meeting in the middle of a predicted rain/sleet/ice/snow storm! Ideas for what people wanted for the club were brainstormed in small groups. Mike Dosek, OSBA Representative from Saint Mary’s, Ohio assisted with information about how to form the club and the affiliate program with OSBA. A committee to work on constitution and by laws was formed and a meeting date, time and place was set.  

 

In February 2019, the first meeting of the Fairfield County Beekeepers was held, on the third Tuesday, at St Mark;s Church in Lancaster.  65 people joined as members that first month. By May 2019, the club had 93 members, a constitution, bylaws, a logo, 15 functioning committees, a bee yard on the premises, and a full slate of educational speakers scheduled for the next 18 months.

 

The mission of the Fairfield County Beekeepers Association shall be to:

1. To educate and assist beekeepers in all aspects of beekeeping

2. To provide education and resources to the public on the value of honeybees for pollination and for their hive resources.

3. To foster cooperation with the agriculture community and other beekeeping organizations, and

4. To support beekeeping research.