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Jim Grant / Tahoe Daily Tribune / Nate Cowen explains the process of extracting honey from a machine that was invented by his grandfather.
STATELINE - To be or not to be an "apiarist" may lie with surviving the latest parasitic mite or living in a family with roots in the industry.
Perhaps it comes with the family name.
Beekeepers and their affiliates will gather at South Shore this week to discuss the personal and professional aspects of being an apiarist for the California State Beekeepers Association's 117th annual convention scheduled at the MontBleu Resort & Casino in Stateline.
Beekeeper Bruce Beekman sauntered down the casino hall with the other jeans- and cowboy hat-clad professionals and hobbyists who make a living and a lifestyle out of the work. For Beekman, it's a family thing. His wife Ann just returned from demonstrating her honey wine at the Epcot Center's food and wine tasting extravaganza in Orlando, Fla.
Beekman, who smiled after spelling his name, said he manages 1,500 colonies in Hughson near Modesto. His son and nephew also work in the business, and his father got him into it through a neighbor's urging in upstate New York.
"I've been doing this all my life," said the 65-year-old beekeeper, who admitted to being stung many times but has never run from his bees.
Beekman also worked as an agriculture chemical salesman. Being in the field has enlightened him about a blood-sucking parasite plaguing the industry, but it's hard to figure out a solution.
Perhaps it comes with the family name.
Beekeepers and their affiliates will gather at South Shore this week to discuss the personal and professional aspects of being an apiarist for the California State Beekeepers Association's 117th annual convention scheduled at the MontBleu Resort & Casino in Stateline.
Beekeeper Bruce Beekman sauntered down the casino hall with the other jeans- and cowboy hat-clad professionals and hobbyists who make a living and a lifestyle out of the work. For Beekman, it's a family thing. His wife Ann just returned from demonstrating her honey wine at the Epcot Center's food and wine tasting extravaganza in Orlando, Fla.
Beekman, who smiled after spelling his name, said he manages 1,500 colonies in Hughson near Modesto. His son and nephew also work in the business, and his father got him into it through a neighbor's urging in upstate New York.
"I've been doing this all my life," said the 65-year-old beekeeper, who admitted to being stung many times but has never run from his bees.
Beekman also worked as an agriculture chemical salesman. Being in the field has enlightened him about a blood-sucking parasite plaguing the industry, but it's hard to figure out a solution.
"It's not easy to get an insect off another insect's back," he said.
The convention goes into full swing today through Wednesday with seminars, meetings and demonstrations from 38 vendors, nine scientists and interested stakeholders.
Association President Max Eggman said Monday more scientists will attend this year because of the pollination crisis, among other things.
"There are numerous problems," Eggman said before stepping into the first board meeting at the casino, as vendors set up tables with the latest contraptions to make life easier for the unique type of farmer.
Their world has not been easy lately. A parasitic mite has bitten its way into honey beekeeper colonies all over the state, threatening the $2.3 billion almond crop, sending beekeepers into a frenzy to import bees and prompting the National Honey Board to witness a burgeoning business in their organic product shipped into the nation from other countries.
Despite the issues, Eggman said the industry has not lost its charm. He said it was more "like work" when he was a young lad helping his father run the business.
Dean Voss worked as a beekeeper handling an average of 2,000 hives for 33 years after marrying a beekeeper's daughter. The travel and lifestyle have made the industry attractive through the years - but one has to be a "bee whisperer" of sorts to thrive in the business.
The convention goes into full swing today through Wednesday with seminars, meetings and demonstrations from 38 vendors, nine scientists and interested stakeholders.
Association President Max Eggman said Monday more scientists will attend this year because of the pollination crisis, among other things.
"There are numerous problems," Eggman said before stepping into the first board meeting at the casino, as vendors set up tables with the latest contraptions to make life easier for the unique type of farmer.
Their world has not been easy lately. A parasitic mite has bitten its way into honey beekeeper colonies all over the state, threatening the $2.3 billion almond crop, sending beekeepers into a frenzy to import bees and prompting the National Honey Board to witness a burgeoning business in their organic product shipped into the nation from other countries.
Despite the issues, Eggman said the industry has not lost its charm. He said it was more "like work" when he was a young lad helping his father run the business.
Dean Voss worked as a beekeeper handling an average of 2,000 hives for 33 years after marrying a beekeeper's daughter. The travel and lifestyle have made the industry attractive through the years - but one has to be a "bee whisperer" of sorts to thrive in the business.
"Some people have the anxiety," he said.
These days, the shortage of pollinating bees in California and demand for a flourishing almond crop has kept him busy renting out his bees to the Golden State.
Even the vendors who develop the beekeeper equipment have roots in the industry such as the case of Nate Cowen. With Voss' help, the Utah man wheeled in a 10-foot-long honey extractor invented by his grandfather.
Beyond the around-the-clock attention to beekeepers from vendors, this week's convention brings in an assortment of speakers addressing a number of topics, including today's:
-- "Small hive beetle" by a University of Florida entomologist.
-- "Almond industry outlook" by a Blue Diamond almond executive.
-- "U.S. and world honey markets and trends by an international expert.
These days, the shortage of pollinating bees in California and demand for a flourishing almond crop has kept him busy renting out his bees to the Golden State.
Even the vendors who develop the beekeeper equipment have roots in the industry such as the case of Nate Cowen. With Voss' help, the Utah man wheeled in a 10-foot-long honey extractor invented by his grandfather.
Beyond the around-the-clock attention to beekeepers from vendors, this week's convention brings in an assortment of speakers addressing a number of topics, including today's:
-- "Small hive beetle" by a University of Florida entomologist.
-- "Almond industry outlook" by a Blue Diamond almond executive.
-- "U.S. and world honey markets and trends by an international expert.
And Wednesday's:
-- "Update on the use of oxalic acid to control varroa mites" by a University of Nebraska professor.
-- "What to feed honey bees" by a designated insider.
-- "Hygenic behavior in honey bees" by a University of Minnesota scientist.
Registration costs $85.
-- "Update on the use of oxalic acid to control varroa mites" by a University of Nebraska professor.
-- "What to feed honey bees" by a designated insider.
-- "Hygenic behavior in honey bees" by a University of Minnesota scientist.
Registration costs $85.
