- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
“From the first moment I opened a hive and held a full frame of brood covered with bees, I was in utopia,” he said. “Everything came together. In my hand I held the essence of core family values.”
That was in 2008.
Now he shares his knowledge with beekeepers-to-be, beginning beekeepers and veteran beekeepers, and gives presentations at schools and public events.
One of his next projects is teaching a class on “Introduction to Beekeeping” from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, April 28, 2012 at the Soil Born Farms' American River Ranch at 2140 Chase Drive, Rancho Cordova. Pre-registration is under way at (916) 363-9685.
Fishback will introduce the class to the basics of beekeeping, life in the honey bee colony, equipment and tools, swarming, pests and diseases “and what it takes to get started.” He will offer both classroom and field instruction and provide an “Introduction to Beekeeping booklet.”
Back in 2008, he and his wife Darla purchased a ranch in Wilton, renamed the BD Ranch and Apiary (www.beesarelife.com), to pursue a self-sustaining life. “I catapulted into this way of life, knowing that honey bees would provide us with pollination as well as a natural sweetener,” Fishback recalled.
Like a nurse bee tending brood, he dived into the project head first—joining the Sacramento Area Beekeepers' Association, reading books, and talking to beekeepers.
He acknowledges that his first year of keeping bees was a rough one. “I had 40 percent losses due to colony collapse disorder (CCD),” Fishback said. “I was determined to research more into the contributing factors of CCD and how I could raise bees successfully without having to use harsh chemicals to treat them.
“My quest as well as my passion with honey bees led me to become the president of the Sacramento Area Beekeepers' Association and become a member of the California State Beekeepers' Association. This allowed me to delve deeper into working with others at all levels of beekeeping and research.”
Fishback has helped out at events such as the California Agriculture Day at the state capitol and at state and county fairs. His interest in research led him to Extension apiculturist Eric Mussen of the UC Davis Department of Entomology faculty and other UC Davis bee specialists.
In the fall of 2010, his began volunteering at the Laidlaw facility.
“It's a privilege” to work with bee breeder-geneticist Susan Cobey and beekeeper/research associate Elizabeth Frost at the Laidlaw facility, Fishback said, “and still have time to share my knowledge in community outreach efforts.” He assists Cobey with her queen rearing classes and instrumental insemination classes, and also with her field trips to commercial breeders.
Fishback continues his outreach programs “to encourage interest in honey bees and to share the importance of the honey bee to our environment and our food supply.” When he gives his presentations in schools, he brings along a bee observation hive, where the youths can single out the queen bee, workers and drones.
“I allow anyone or any group with an interest agriculture, small-scale farming and of course, beekeeping, to take a day tour of my ranch, get in a bee suit and feel joy that life has to offer,” Fishback said.
Contact: Brian Fishback at bfishback@frontiernet.net
- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
However, the UC Davis facility recently drew royalty from the American Beekeeping Federation (AFB): American Honey Bee Queen Teresa Bryson, 20, of Chambersburg, Pa.
Bryson toured the research facility and the half-acre Häagen-Dazs Honey Bee Haven, a bee friendly demonstration garden on Bee Biology Road. Beekeeper Brian Fishback of Wilton, a Laidlaw volunteer and past president of the Sacramento Area Beekeepers' Association and a member of the California State Beekeepers' Association, hosted her.
Bryson, who at age 19 was crowned American Honey Bee Queen at the January 2011 convention of the American Beekeeping Federation in Galveston, Texas, serves as a spokesperson for the beekeeping and honey industry. By the time her reign ends in January 2012, she will have visited approximately 25 states.
“I enjoy meeting different people and hobbyist and commercial beekeepers,” Bryson said.
She marveled at the Häagen-Dazs Honey Bee Haven, which includes ornamental, fruit, vegetable and nut plantings, as well as the art work from the UC Davis Art/Science Fusion Program.
“Miss Bee Haven,” a six-foot sculpture of a worker bee, the work of Davis artist Donna Billick, anchors the garden art.
“It's great that the American Beekeeping Association (ABF) annually sponsors the queen/princess competition,” Fishback said.. “They do so much for the beekeeping industry.”
Bryson earlier was selected the 2010 Pennsylvania State Honey Bee Queen. Allison Adams of Plano, Texas, serves as the 2011 princess and is also a beekeeper.
Bryson, daughter of Tom and Linda Bryson of Chambersburg, Pa., is a junior and honor student at Hagerstown (Md.) Community College, where she is double majoring in English and forensic science. Her career goal is to work in a crime lab, perhaps for the Secret Service.
Active in 4-H for 10 years, she was named the 2010 4-H'er of the Year in Franklin County, Pa. She continues as a leader in the 4-H youth development program.
No stranger to bees, Bryson began beekeeping four years ago. She and her sister, Rachel, now tend five hives of Italian bees on their family's three-acre farm. The bees pollinate the Brysons' apples, pears, strawberries, raspberries and blueberries.
Bryson, who enjoys sewing, reading and square dancing in her leisure time, has two brothers and a sister. Their mother is a teacher and their father, a mechanical engineer.
This was her second trip to California; Bryson was here in 2008 for the ABF convention.
Aug. 24, 2011
Beekeeper Brian Fishback, a volunteer at the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility, shows Amereican Honey Bee Queen Teresa Bryson the Häagen-Dazs Honey Bee Haven. In the background isDAVIS--The Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility at the University of California, Davis is accustomed to royalty—after all, a queen occupies each of the several dozen research hives.
However, the UC Davis facility recently drew royalty from the American Beekeeping Federation (AFB): American Honey Bee Queen Teresa Bryson, 20, of Chambersburg, Pa.
Bryson toured the research facility and the half-acre Häagen-Dazs Honey Bee Haven, a bee friendly demonstration garden on Bee Biology Road. Beekeeper Brian Fishback of Wilton, a Laidlaw volunteer and past president of the Sacramento Area Beekeepers' Association and a member of the California State Beekeepers' Association, hosted her.
Bryson, who at age 19 was crowned American Honey Bee Queen at the January 2011 convention of the American Beekeeping Federation in Galveston, Texas, serves as a spokesperson for the beekeeping and honey industry. By the time her reign ends in January 2012, she will have visited approximately 25 states.
Native pollinator specialist Robbin Thorp (center), emeritus professor of entomology at UC Davis, discussed native bees with Brian Fishback (left) and American Honey Bee Queen Teresa Bryson.Staff research associate/beekeeper Elizabeth Frost (right) shows Teresa Bryson a native bee mural in the haven. The art was coordinated by UC Davis graduate student Sarah Dalrymple.Brian Fishback shows American Honey Bee Queen Teresa Bryson the bee boxes painted by the UC Davis Art/Science Fusion Program.While at Davis, Bryson conferred with native pollinator specialist Robbin Thorp, emeritus professor of entomology and staff research associate/beekeeper Elizabeth Frost. Also during her visit to Northern California, she greeted California State Fair visitors at Fishback's bee observation hive and answered questions about bees. Her visit also included a talk to the Sacramento Beekeepers' Association.
“I enjoy meeting different people and hobbyist and commercial beekeepers,” Bryson said.
She marveled at the Häagen-Dazs Honey Bee Haven, which includes ornamental, fruit, vegetable and nut plantings, as well as the art work from the UC Davis Art/Science Fusion Program.
“Miss Bee Haven,” a six-foot sculpture of a worker bee, the work of Davis artist Donna Billick, anchors the garden art.
“It's great that the American Beekeeping Association (ABF) annually sponsors the queen/princess competition,” Fishback said.. “They do so much for the beekeeping industry.”
The purpose of the honey queen program is to educate the public about the beekeeping and hone industries, Bryson said. The queen and princess travel throughout the United States during their reign year and talk about the importance of honey bees, focusing on crop pollination and honey. They discuss why honey is a healthy substitute for sugar, and why it's excellent in baked products.
Bryson earlier was selected the 2010 Pennsylvania State Honey Bee Queen. Allison Adams of Plano, Texas, serves as the 2011 princess and is also a beekeeper.
Bryson, daughter of Tom and Linda Bryson of Chambersburg, Pa., is a junior and honor student at Hagerstown (Md.) Community College, where she is double majoring in English and forensic science. Her career goal is to work in a crime lab, perhaps for the Secret Service.
Active in 4-H for 10 years, she was named the 2010 4-H'er of the Year in Franklin County, Pa. She continues as a leader in the 4-H youth development program.
No stranger to bees, Bryson began beekeeping four years ago. She and her sister, Rachel, now tend five hives of Italian bees on their family's three-acre farm. The bees pollinate the Brysons' apples, pears, strawberries, raspberries and blueberries.
Bryson, who enjoys sewing, reading and square dancing in her leisure time, has two brothers and a sister. Their mother is a teacher and their father, a mechanical engineer.
This was her second trip to California; Bryson was here in 2008 for the ABF convention.
--Kathy Keatley Garvey
Communications specialist
UC Davis Department of Entomology
(530) 754-6894
