A day to 'bee' celebrated
By Melinda Harrell
Published in News on August 18, 2016 1:46 PM
Full Size
News-Argus/STEVE HERRING
Honeybees swarm around James Dove, left, and Jo Daniels as they check some of Dove's hives Wednesday afternoon. They are members of the Beekeepers of the Neuse that is sponsoring its annual Honeybee Day celebrations from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. this Saturday at Waynesborough Park.
News-Argus/STEVE HERRING
Honeybees move around on a a hive belonging to James Dove, vice president of Beekeepers of the Neuse.
Full Size
News-Argus/STEVE HERRING
James Dove, left, helps Jo Daniels don protective gear before they check some of Dove's hives Wednesday afternoon.
The annual National Honey Bee Day Celebration will be hosted at Waynesborough Park on U.S. 117 South Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Jo Daniels, event coordinator for Beekeepers of the Neuse, which is the organization hosting the event, said the day will feature fun and interactive activities all designed to raise awareness about honey bees' vital role in agriculture, which is a large economic driver in the county.
In preparation for the Beekeepers of the Neuse's biggest event, Ms. Daniels and James Dove of Mount Olive appeared before Wayne County commissioners Tuesday to ask for their support of the observance by proclaiming Saturday as Honey Bee Day in Wayne County.
The board unanimously approved the proclamation for the observance read by Ms. Daniels.
As an agricultural county, honeybees are very important to the economy and food production with one bite of food in three benefiting directly from honey bee pollination, she said.
The bees are essential for production of more than 90 food crops and bee pollination is responsible for $15 billion in added crop value, Ms. Daniels said.
"It is so important to our agriculture and production here in Wayne County," she said. "Wayne County is one of the biggest influences on agriculture in North Carolina. We have seen that reflected in the new Maxwell (Regional Agricultural and Convention) Center.
"So we really do appreciate what you have done with the proclamation for Bee Day."
Ms. Daniels said the Saturday celebration is the largest event for the Beekeepers of the Neuse.
"This is our big event," she said.
"We are one of the larger clubs in the area. Everyone that is participating is local because the importance of agriculture in Wayne County -- the fact that the new Maxwell Center is underway. We work closely with the agricultural extension. We want the message to get out about how important bees are and how pleasurable to be a beekeeper it is. It is so interesting and calming."
The celebration is also organized to encourage bee education among the youth in the area.
"We want to educate the public, especially the children, about the importance of the honeybee," Ms. Daniels said.
"Without the honeybee we would lose one-third of our food source. If we didn't have the honey bee we wouldn't have agriculture in North Carolina -- we wouldn't have agriculture period. If it wasn't for the honeybee we would be in really big trouble."
Ms. Daniels said one way the celebration will encourage children's interest in the honeybee is through the "Beehive" section of the event.
She said children will be able to dissect actual beehives that are without bees. Children will also be able to participate in a scavenger hunt, which not only make an interesting diversion for the youth but also encourage bee education.
"They will visit each station in the park to see beekeeper equipment, and there will be a person representing the queen bee and worker bees," Ms. Daniels said.
"They have to go to all these different stations to learn about the bees. They have passport that will be stamped at every station. Then they can come back and receive fuzzy honeybee."
There will also be a Name the Bee Contest in which children will be asked to submit suggestions for the Beekeepers of the Neuse's newest mascot's name.
There will also be beekeeping equipment on display and a live bee observation hive, said Ms. Daniels, including local vendors, food and entertainment.
The Beekeepers of the Neuse will offer up fresh honey straight from their hives as well.
Ms. Daniels said throughout the week the beekeepers will be extracting 185 pounds of honey from their hives especially for the Saturday event.
The vendors include Baxter's Bees, Bee's Needz, Pat Turner Jewelry Designs and Flat Mountain Dulcimers.
The food vendors include Funky Fresh Food Truck, Stacie's Peanuts, Funnel Cakes and Pork Skins, SEAster's Alpine Shaved Ice and Jim McGinnis Homemade Ice Cream.
The entertainment that will be performed througout the day will be by Empty Pockets, The Flat Mountain Dulcimers and the Spring Creek Pickers.
The national anthem will also be performed by 2015 Miss Goldsboro Emily Tucker and Amelia Grace Bryant, North Carolina's Miss United States Agriculture Cover Miss, will also make a special appearance.
-- Steve Herring contributed to this story.