Twenty-four area residents recently completed the five-session beginner beekeeping course sponsored by the Polk County Extension Center. The course was taught by longtime beekeeper Phillip Holbert of Saluda.

The course covered topics that every beekeeper needs to know to successfully care for honeybees. Holbert has over 25 years of beekeeping experience. He covered everything in the class from how to begin your hive with some package bees to how to treat for the various pests that are associated with honeybees in the current environment.

Those graduating from the class were: Bill Benson, Bobby Burns, Brian Crissey, Wilma Daugherty, Ralph Daugherty, Wanandiva Dever, Dean Geier, Tracie Hanson, Mary Hay, Bruce Heckelman, Martine House, Edna McKee, Don McIntyre, Junie Michel, Lynne Parsons, Garland Rice, Cathy Rotruck, Kacy Spooner, Gorden Threlfall, Kathleen Utz, Susan Vann, Larry Vann, David Widdicombe and Paul Zeese.

“Last spring (2010) we became very concerned over the low numbers of native honeybees,” said John Vining Polk County Extension Director. “We hope the outcome of this educational effort will be new colonies of honeybees throughout our area.”

As a special benefit to the class, classmate David Widdicombe created special graduation certificates for everyone who completed the course. In addition, two complete hives of honeybees were given away during the last class. Wanandiva Dever and Martine House were the lucky students who had their names drawn.