BeeFest 2020

[Acebird]

Yeah Jim but we had suits and gloves on most of the time.  I didn't feel threatened by covad 19.

[CoolBees]

Due to Covad 19, we only had about 20 people here, ....
Jim Altmiller

I'm sorry to hear that Jim. For my part, things were changing fast here on the "left coast" last week. I figured if things went really south, I'd better bee here for the family, instead of there. Hopefully next year things will be more stabilized - I'd sure like to attend.

[BeeMaster2]

Allen,
I was getting a bit concerned that return flights might bee canceled especially for Michael. They changed his several times before he left on Monday. At one point he was booked on 2 different connecting flights in 2 different airports at the same time. He did not know which initial flight that he should get on.
Jim Altmiller

[BeeMaster2]

Here are the results from the queen grafting.

Here is one bar.
[attachment=0][/attachment]

And here is the other.
[attachment=1][/attachment]

We did leave one queen cell in the hive to replace the original queen.

We took them off the boards and put them in cages.
[attachment=2][/attachment]
continued

[BeeMaster2]

Then we put them on a board, held with rubber bands, and put them back in the hive.
[attachment=0][/attachment]
I am giving any virgin queens that I do not need away. Let me know if you need any.
FloridaGardener has first dibs per previous PM request.
Jim Altmiller

[guitarstitch]

Wow!  4 of 5 of my cells took...I think?

Not bad for first pass at grafting.  :)  Thanks for the followup.

[BeeMaster2]

Matt,
You did better than me. All five of mine started to develop but only one was capped.
Jim Altmiller

[guitarstitch]

Beginner's luck.

This does have me contemplating banking a few queens for emergency purposes, however.  Queen issues were the ruin of my apiary last year.  Perhaps it was me being too proactive and the bees would have been better off if I left well enough alone.  The option to spool up some queens relatively quickly is rather tempting.  :)

[Barhopper]

We grafted for the first time for ourselves this past Saturday. We checked them today. Had 5 of 20 make cells. I was happy with that considering we grafted on the tailgate of the truck and we?re nervous as crap. Going to Beefest this year gave us the information and confidence to try grafting. We?re hoping they all get capped and we have the timing right for hatching.
A big thanks to Jim for hosting this event and to Mr. Bush for explaining and teaching grafting. We hope to attend next year.

Thanks again,
Scott and Marjorie Mansfield

PS. Looks like my grafts at Beefest also made cells.

[Bill Murray]

Jim, I know its been a couple days but I was way, way, behind. Marley and I wanted to say thanks a ton for a very enjoyable and informative weekend. Give me a call when you get a chance I have a couple trees and some overlay for your anvil.
Thanks again,
Marley and Bill

[BeeMaster2]

Thanks Bill.
I will try to call later, if I remember. 😞
Jim Altmiller

[sjachec]

Dear Jim,

Will there be a BeeFest 2021 this year at your place? 

Thanks,
Steven
Melbourne, FL

[BeeMaster2]

My wife and I have talked about this and decided that we will not bee able to do BeeFest this year due to COVID.
Hopefully next year we will bee able to do it.
Jim Altmiller

[Acebird]

I haven't got my shots yet so I wouldn't be able to go anyway.

[sjachec]

Thanks for the update for 2021.

Best,
Steven
Melbourne, FL

[Michael Bush]

My only fear was that Biden would cut air travel while I'm there and I wouldn't be able to get home...

[Acebird]

More likely that Nebraska would stop planes from originating in FL.

[guitarstitch]

My only fear was that Biden would cut air travel while I'm there and I wouldn't be able to get home...

I'm sure there's enough folk that would put you up for awhile.  Think of it like a 6 month nomadic adventure.  :)

[Michael Bush]

>More likely that Nebraska would stop planes from originating in FL.

Nope.  We haven't been shut down for some time.  Everything is open.  Schools, restaurants, stores... About the only thing still shut down is the nearby Chinese restaurant that only does take out and has closed their dining room...