WEST TEXAS Bee School
OCt 10, 2026
Keynote: Bob Binnie
OCt 10, 2026
Keynote: Bob Binnie
Learn Beekeeping in West Texas
Location: The Big Country Hall at the Taylor County Expo Center
1700 Hwy 36, Abilene, TX 79602
There is plenty of free parking, no tag is needed.
There are several gates to enter the property. We are at the Big Country Hall (see the red circle and arrow), which is one of many buildings at the Taylor County Expo Center.
Please come early so you can find the building and enjoy a coffee. We will start promptly on time. Coffee: 8am, Bee School starts at 8:30am.
There are several buildings and activities happening at the Taylor County Expo Center, so please follow these directions specifically for West Texas Bee School.
1700 Hwy 36, Abilene, TX 79602
There is plenty of free parking, no tag is needed.
There are several gates to enter the property. We are at the Big Country Hall (see the red circle and arrow), which is one of many buildings at the Taylor County Expo Center.
Please come early so you can find the building and enjoy a coffee. We will start promptly on time. Coffee: 8am, Bee School starts at 8:30am.
There are several buildings and activities happening at the Taylor County Expo Center, so please follow these directions specifically for West Texas Bee School.
- The best way to reach our venue is through Gate 5, which is located on the Loop 322 access road.
- Once you come through Gate 5, take an immediate right and follow the road toward the Big Country Hall. You'll be passing through the RV parking.
- Continue through Gate E (as marked on the map). You'll notice a large pole barn on the right - and the venue is on the left.
- Park near the Big Country Hall.
- From the parking area, walk to the front entrance.
- Look for "Beekeepers" signage and our volunteers to help guide you.
Pre-Conference Activities
October 9, 2026: Master Beekeeper Testing through AgriLife
Register Here [Last Day to register is Monday October 5th.]
Contact: Heather McBride: heather.mcbride@ag.tamu.edu
Location: This testing event is at the Texas A&M AgriLife Taylor County Extension office at: 1982 Lytle Way, Abilene, Texas 79602 in coordination with The West Texas Bee School.
Time: Check in 12:45p , Testing: 1p-4p
October 9, 2026: 6:30pm-8pm: SOLD OUT. Dinner at Perini Ranch with our Speakers. Please message Tiffany at 512-484-0878 if you'd like to be on a cancellation list. Limited to the 20 people, our annual dinner at Perini's is a great opportunity to sit shoulder to shoulder with our presenters and enjoy a West Texas meal. Tickets are $98 and include a pre-set menu of premium Mesquite Smoked Peppered Beef Tenderloin, Creamy Horseradish Sauce, Southern Fried Catfish, Ranch Salad, Cowboy Potatoes, Dinner Rolls, Bread Pudding, Iced Tea and Water.
Post-Conference Dinner
October 10, 2026: We are excited to host a casual onsite dinner with our speakers for an early/easy dinner. We will get a head count and pass the hat for a fajita or pizza delivery to our location.
October 9, 2026: Master Beekeeper Testing through AgriLife
Register Here [Last Day to register is Monday October 5th.]
Contact: Heather McBride: heather.mcbride@ag.tamu.edu
Location: This testing event is at the Texas A&M AgriLife Taylor County Extension office at: 1982 Lytle Way, Abilene, Texas 79602 in coordination with The West Texas Bee School.
Time: Check in 12:45p , Testing: 1p-4p
October 9, 2026: 6:30pm-8pm: SOLD OUT. Dinner at Perini Ranch with our Speakers. Please message Tiffany at 512-484-0878 if you'd like to be on a cancellation list. Limited to the 20 people, our annual dinner at Perini's is a great opportunity to sit shoulder to shoulder with our presenters and enjoy a West Texas meal. Tickets are $98 and include a pre-set menu of premium Mesquite Smoked Peppered Beef Tenderloin, Creamy Horseradish Sauce, Southern Fried Catfish, Ranch Salad, Cowboy Potatoes, Dinner Rolls, Bread Pudding, Iced Tea and Water.
Post-Conference Dinner
October 10, 2026: We are excited to host a casual onsite dinner with our speakers for an early/easy dinner. We will get a head count and pass the hat for a fajita or pizza delivery to our location.
West Bee School Schedule
Saturday October 10, 2026
Saturday October 10, 2026
Texas Master Beekeeper Testing will be onsite the day before: Friday, October 9th. Contact Heather McBride: heather.mcbride@ag.tamu.edu. We will start promptly on time. Please come early to find the building and your bee friends.
8:00 AM – 8:30 AM: Check-In + Beekeepers Coffee Courtesy of Dadant - turn in your 4 ounce black jar honey sample for the people's choice award :) Please come be seated early - we will start on time.
8:30 AM – 8:45 AM: Welcome from the West Texas Beekeepers Guild We are excited for a day of learning, connection, and practical insights from one of the industry’s most respected voices.
8:45 AM - 9:45 AM Bob Binnie: Old comb and toxic chemical interactions in our colonies Renowned beekeeper Bob Binnie, is bringing our school a research based talk that you can't find on youtube.
10 AM – 10:45 AM: Beekeeping from the Ground Up - Growing your Apiary with Ethan West. A practical, inspiring session on building your apiary from the ground up, with strategies for growing healthy colonies, expanding responsibly, and creating a sustainable beekeeping operation. Ethan will teach beginner beekeepers what to focus on and how to play both defense and offense in the apiary. He will cover his bee equation, Texas seasons, equipment, and more. His talk is intended for beginners and will inspire beekeepers of all levels with his unique approach.
11:00 – 11:30 AM: Honey Industry Update with Dr. Garett Slater. Get a bird's eye view of what is happening within the honey industry and learn about AgriLife's diagnostic lab, which was a direct response to the recent honeybee losses.
11:30 AM - 12:15 PM Tasting with Master Craftsman Dodie Stillman: Enjoy learning how to taste honey and then taste some diverse honey samples right before lunch.
12:15 – 1:00 PM: Annual group pic + BBQ Sandwich Lunch & Networking (lunch is a chopped brisket sandwich with chips and tea, and is included in your ticket price - there are no food vendors onsite, so please plan ahead if alternative food is required)
1:00 – 2:00 PM: Seasonal IPM for Beekeepers with Greg Wilson
For beekeepers, understanding what pests are active, what crops are being treated, when applications are likely to happen, and where our bees are foraging can make the difference between being caught off guard and being prepared. Greg will walk through the agricultural calendar so beekeepers can begin anticipating pest pressure and potential pesticide applications before they happen.
2:15 – 4:00 PM: Bob Binnie: Feeding Bees and Questions for Bob
A practical deep dive into feeding bees—when to feed, what to feed, and how to make smart feeding decisions that support colony health, development, and honey production. With plenty of time for your questions for Bob.
Casual onsite dinner - Join us for an optional post-conference dinner with our speakers. We will pass a hat for those staying to contribute to fajitas or pizza and have it delivered onsite.
8:00 AM – 8:30 AM: Check-In + Beekeepers Coffee Courtesy of Dadant - turn in your 4 ounce black jar honey sample for the people's choice award :) Please come be seated early - we will start on time.
8:30 AM – 8:45 AM: Welcome from the West Texas Beekeepers Guild We are excited for a day of learning, connection, and practical insights from one of the industry’s most respected voices.
8:45 AM - 9:45 AM Bob Binnie: Old comb and toxic chemical interactions in our colonies Renowned beekeeper Bob Binnie, is bringing our school a research based talk that you can't find on youtube.
10 AM – 10:45 AM: Beekeeping from the Ground Up - Growing your Apiary with Ethan West. A practical, inspiring session on building your apiary from the ground up, with strategies for growing healthy colonies, expanding responsibly, and creating a sustainable beekeeping operation. Ethan will teach beginner beekeepers what to focus on and how to play both defense and offense in the apiary. He will cover his bee equation, Texas seasons, equipment, and more. His talk is intended for beginners and will inspire beekeepers of all levels with his unique approach.
11:00 – 11:30 AM: Honey Industry Update with Dr. Garett Slater. Get a bird's eye view of what is happening within the honey industry and learn about AgriLife's diagnostic lab, which was a direct response to the recent honeybee losses.
11:30 AM - 12:15 PM Tasting with Master Craftsman Dodie Stillman: Enjoy learning how to taste honey and then taste some diverse honey samples right before lunch.
12:15 – 1:00 PM: Annual group pic + BBQ Sandwich Lunch & Networking (lunch is a chopped brisket sandwich with chips and tea, and is included in your ticket price - there are no food vendors onsite, so please plan ahead if alternative food is required)
1:00 – 2:00 PM: Seasonal IPM for Beekeepers with Greg Wilson
For beekeepers, understanding what pests are active, what crops are being treated, when applications are likely to happen, and where our bees are foraging can make the difference between being caught off guard and being prepared. Greg will walk through the agricultural calendar so beekeepers can begin anticipating pest pressure and potential pesticide applications before they happen.
2:15 – 4:00 PM: Bob Binnie: Feeding Bees and Questions for Bob
A practical deep dive into feeding bees—when to feed, what to feed, and how to make smart feeding decisions that support colony health, development, and honey production. With plenty of time for your questions for Bob.
Casual onsite dinner - Join us for an optional post-conference dinner with our speakers. We will pass a hat for those staying to contribute to fajitas or pizza and have it delivered onsite.
Food: There will be no food vendors onsite. We will provide a water station throughout the day, as well as lunch, which will include a chopped BBQ sandwich, chips, and tea from local icon: The Shed BBQ.
If you need additional snacks, drinks, or other food items throughout the day, please plan to bring those with you. We do have a kitchen available at the venue, including refrigerator space, where you are welcome to store personal food items.
If you need additional snacks, drinks, or other food items throughout the day, please plan to bring those with you. We do have a kitchen available at the venue, including refrigerator space, where you are welcome to store personal food items.
Meet the Speakers
- Bob BinnieBlue Ridge Honey Company
Check out Bob's YouTube Channel
Bob Binnie, along with his wife Suzette, owns Blue Ridge Honey Co. in Lakemont, Georgia, operating 2000 colonies along with a sizable honey packing operation. Voted "Beekeeper Of The Year" by the Georgia Beekeepers Association in 2003 Bob has been involved in commercial beekeeping for nearly four decades. - Greg WilsonAgriLife Extension Program SpecialistGreg Wilson is an Extension Program Specialist in San Angelo, Texas. He will be teaching on Seasonal IPM for Beekeepers as well as introducing some new solutions for beekeepers. For beekeepers, understanding what pests are active, what crops are being treated, when applications are likely to happen, and where our bees are foraging can make the difference between being caught off guard and being prepared.
- Dr. Garett SlaterAgriLife Extension AgentGarett Slater, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor and Apiculture Extension Entomologist at Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension in Overton, TX. He leads the statewide Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Apiary Program and supervises the activities of three honey bee program specialists in Dallas, Angleton, and San Antonio. As the Honey Bee Extension Specialist at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, his primary role is to deliver extension services and applied research tailored to the needs of beekeepers, promoting sustainable practices and economic development of beekeepers.
- Dodie StillmanMaster Craftsman Beekeeper and Honey SommelierDodie will be back in West Texas to share more honeys from around the world in this unique honey tasting event - before lunch!
- Ethan WestHowdy Honey
Hotel Discounts Have Passed. Let us know if you need help finding lodging.
Hampton by Hilton - deadline was Sept 17
Here is the booking link to access our discounted room block
to get our room rate of $249 (normal rate is $344)
https://group.hamptoninn.com/1qg75t
Use discount code: West Texas Beekeepers
3526 Westlake Rd. Abilene, TX 79601
325.673.4400
DoubleTree by Hilton - deadline was Sept 17
Here is the booking link to access our discounted room block
to get our room rate of $244 (normal rate is $392)
https://tinyurl.com/doubletreebee
Use discount code: Bee School
500 Cypress St Abilene, Texas 79601
325-999-1878
Hampton by Hilton - deadline was Sept 17
Here is the booking link to access our discounted room block
to get our room rate of $249 (normal rate is $344)
https://group.hamptoninn.com/1qg75t
Use discount code: West Texas Beekeepers
3526 Westlake Rd. Abilene, TX 79601
325.673.4400
DoubleTree by Hilton - deadline was Sept 17
Here is the booking link to access our discounted room block
to get our room rate of $244 (normal rate is $392)
https://tinyurl.com/doubletreebee
Use discount code: Bee School
500 Cypress St Abilene, Texas 79601
325-999-1878
Bee School Schedule - See what we did in Fall 2025!
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM: Check-In + Beekeepers Coffee
Courtesy of Dadant and Savannah Bee
9:00 AM – 9:50 AM: Intro to the Wild World of Beekeeping (101) TV's own Charlie Agar, of Charlie Bee Co
10:00 – 10:45 AM: Fall Hive Inspections and Splits: Preparing Colonies for West Texas Winters with Michael & Nikki Felcman of Saint Abigail Honey
11:00 – 11:45 AM: A Seasonal Approach to Honey Production: for home, market, and show with Tiffany Harelik, Hacienda Harelik Honey
12:00 – 1:00 PM: Lunch & Networking (lunch is a BBQ sandwich, and is included)
1:00 – 2:00 PM: Removals Panel: Charlie Agar (Charlie Bee, Michael and Eli Felcman (Saint Abigail), Angela Steinhauer (TAIS)
2:15 – 3:00 PM: Drone Hunting: Dodie Stillman, TBA Past President
3:00 PM – 4PM: Medicinal Beekeeping with Dr. Ferhat Ozturk
(shop, bio break, refill water bottles)
4:30p-5:30p "Ask a Texas Master Beekeeper" with Omar Martinez, Apiculture Program Specialist with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Courtesy of Dadant and Savannah Bee
9:00 AM – 9:50 AM: Intro to the Wild World of Beekeeping (101) TV's own Charlie Agar, of Charlie Bee Co
10:00 – 10:45 AM: Fall Hive Inspections and Splits: Preparing Colonies for West Texas Winters with Michael & Nikki Felcman of Saint Abigail Honey
11:00 – 11:45 AM: A Seasonal Approach to Honey Production: for home, market, and show with Tiffany Harelik, Hacienda Harelik Honey
12:00 – 1:00 PM: Lunch & Networking (lunch is a BBQ sandwich, and is included)
1:00 – 2:00 PM: Removals Panel: Charlie Agar (Charlie Bee, Michael and Eli Felcman (Saint Abigail), Angela Steinhauer (TAIS)
2:15 – 3:00 PM: Drone Hunting: Dodie Stillman, TBA Past President
3:00 PM – 4PM: Medicinal Beekeeping with Dr. Ferhat Ozturk
(shop, bio break, refill water bottles)
4:30p-5:30p "Ask a Texas Master Beekeeper" with Omar Martinez, Apiculture Program Specialist with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Location: The Taylor County Expo Center in Abilene, Texas
Coffee bar, BBQ sandwich Lunch, and Honey Tasting is included in your ticket.
There will also be vendors with beekeeping supplies and honey available for purchase on site. There is plenty of parking.
Questions? Email Tiff@TiffanyHarelik.com
Coffee bar, BBQ sandwich Lunch, and Honey Tasting is included in your ticket.
There will also be vendors with beekeeping supplies and honey available for purchase on site. There is plenty of parking.
Questions? Email Tiff@TiffanyHarelik.com
Photo courtesy of Daniel X. O'Neil / flickr.com
All text, photo, and video materials belong to their owners and are for demonstration purposes only. Please do not use them in commercial projects.
All text, photo, and video materials belong to their owners and are for demonstration purposes only. Please do not use them in commercial projects.
