Winners of the 2013 Young Beekeeper Award

First Place:

Sammy Mohler (Michiana Beekeepers)
Josie Keller (Central Beekeepers)

Second Place:

Katie Neighbors (White Lick Beekeepers)
John Plunkett (West Central Beekeepers)

Third Place:

Rissa Pitt (Michiana Beekeepers)
Katherine Eldridge (Bedford Beekeepers)

 Katie Neighbors

As one of the first Brent Bridwell recipients, I am extremely grateful for the opportunities you have given me. I have learned so much and met so many interesting people since I started with bees after attending the IBA bee school. I have learned nothing comes easy with beekeeping. Even though the bees do all the hard work, I'm still responsible for 60000 children who depend on me to keep them safe and well. I would like to see more young people get involved with bees. They are fascinating because of their work ethics and social makeup in the hive.

  John Plunkett

Rissa Pitt 

Katherine Eldridge

  I had a wonderful time participating in the Young Beekeeper of the Year Award Program!  Recently my siblings and I gave a presentation on the award to our local beekeeping club, Bedford Beekeepers. It went great and I hope to educate more people about beekeeping. I am looking forward to the next Young Beekeeper of the Year Award in 2014! 

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Sammy Mohler

"I would like to say thank you to everyone who makes the young beekeeper program possible. I greatly enjoyed the conference and look forward to being an Indiana beekeeper for many years to come. "

 Josie Keller

"Thank you so much for this award.  I am honored that I was chosen to be a finalist and then awarded with first place in my division.  I started beekeeping a year and a half ago; my mentor and I started from ground zero as I knew nothing about beekeeping.   It has been a long haul, but one filled with adventure and uncertainty, not to mention plenty of things to learn.  When I got started I invested almost $600 into beekeeping.  Thanks to my honey crop this spring and this award I have finally broken even!  Everyone knows that beekeeping is expensive and young people usually do not have enough money to invest in such an uncertain hobby, therefore it is important for these rewards to continue.  Young people can produce quite an interest in beekeeping; wherever I go, it is a topic of interest.  Next spring I will start up my new hive for a total of 3 hives.  I am very excited to see what the New Year will bring."

³⁶ Already he who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for life eternal; so that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. ³⁷ For in this case the saying is true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ ³⁸ I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored and you have entered into their labor. (Jn 4:36-38)