The Lorain County Beekeepers Association (LCBA) held its first Ms. Honey Bee’s High Tea Event on March 10 at Wellington Eagles, 631 S. Main St., in Wellington. The ticketed event was organized to raise funds for the proposed construction of a building for LCBA at the Lorain County Fairgrounds.
Sheila St. Clair, who co-owns Queen Right Colonies in Spencer, Ohio, and is LCBA’s Building Fund Director said education about beekeeping is the focus of the proposed structure.
“Everybody that knows anything about honeybees today knows that they are a part of our sustainability with agriculture,” she said. “Children need to be educated about bees.”
St. Clair also said it is important for LCBA to have its own space that will create a lasting legacy for the organization.
“Lorain County Beekeepers needs their own home,” she said. “When I’m done and can’t help with these things anymore, I want there to be a staple place to preserve beekeeping in Lorain County, statewide and beyond.”
St. Clair said the building project has already been supported the Lorain County Commissioners, the Lorain County Fair Board as well as Cargill Inc., a food corporation that operates in numerous states. St. Clair said LCBA has already had its corporate proposal accepted by Cargill and that the company is on the way to becoming a main sponsor for the project.
During the event, there were also entertainment and educational programs. The River Fire String Duo, comprised of North Olmsted musicians Michele George and Jeffrey Schimelpfenig played tunes for the attendees.
There was also a “Women in Beekeeping: An Expressive Life and Era of Our First President, circa 1919,” presentation that focused on the history of LCBA’s first president Violet Fowls, who was from Oberlin.
St. Clair acted as Fowls during the presentation, wearing full period-appropriate attire. Many of the event’s attendees also made an effort to dress up for the occasion.
“Some people wore their Sunday’s best or period attire but there are no rules,” St. Clair said. We have everybody here it’s a total mix of people having a great time and loving the opportunity to dress up.”
The attendees enjoyed a number of treats including tea, pretzel Jell-O salad, chicken croissants, pinwheel sandwiches, strawberry scones, almond chocolate biscotti and red velvet cupcakes during the event.
Another goal of the high tea was to raise awareness about what LCBA does in general. St. Clair said the organization has both lifetime and yearly members and that they put on a number of educational opportunities as well.
This month, LCBA is hosting classes on beekeeping on Friday nights which St. Clair said has drawn about 80 families. There is more information on LCBA’s history programs, building project is available on the organization’s website.
