The Central Illinois Beekeepers Association (CIBA) is an informational organization that provides members with information about honey bees, beekeeping, and products of the hive such as honey, wax, pollen, and propolis. We are a support group developed to satisfy the needs and education of our beekeeping members. Meetings and events are usually located in and around the Bloomington\/Normal area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Monthly Meeting<\/em><\/strong> Educational Topics, Typically 4th Tuesday of the month<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meetings in person at U of I McLean Co. Extension office, 1615 Commerce Pkwy., Bloomington and ONLINE using Zoom (link in Event Tab<\/a>) <\/p>\n\n\n\n April 4\/28\/26 Jim Wellwood, State Inspector on Inspections. Location: <\/strong> Meetings in person at U of I McLean Co. Extension office, 1615 Commerce Pkwy., Bloomington and ONLINE using Zoom (link in Event Tab<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n With hands on state inspection Saturday 11-2pm 5\/2\/26 LOCATION: <\/strong> 6424 Alexander Road, Heyworth Club hives \/ PK 309-826-0089 if you have questions<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bees and Brews<\/em><\/strong>, Social Activity, <\/p>\n\n\n\n Come hang out and talk bees and all the things associated with beekeeping! This is a social event to trade tales. Come as a member or wannabee or someone just wanting to learn about bees or someone wanting to hang with good people. We can BEE friendly. Typically 2nd Wednesday of the month, 6-8 pm (Let Tom Pankonen or PK know of recommendations for locations)<\/p>\n\n\n\n April<\/strong> 4\/8\/26 Wednesday 6-8 pm Location: Haynes on Main, 108 S. Main, Mackinaw, IL<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mentorship\/Field Trip CIBA Hives<\/em><\/strong> -Inspections, hive work and mentorship on the club hives, weather permitting. Wannabies, newbies and old hands are all welcome. I ask that you let me know if you are coming in case of weather or conflicts. I have a few extra suits. Bring yours if you have one. I will rotate between Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, or Mondays. If these don\u2019t work for you, let me know and we can arrange alternatives. We will do inspections, hang swarm traps, maybe maintenance. If you are new or interested in bees, this is an opportunity to have hands on inspection. Contact me if planning to come for inspections or work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My contact is pjkorand@gmail.com<\/a> 309-826-0089 email, text or call<\/p>\n\n\n\n Time:<\/strong> 11-2 pm. CIBA club hives Location: 6424 Alexander Road, Heyworth, about 6 miles SW of Heyworth<\/p>\n\n\n\n Inspection<\/strong> Dates<\/strong>: Sun. 4\/12\/26, Sat. 4\/18, Fri. 4\/24, Fri. 5\/8, Sun. 5\/17, Fri. 5\/29<\/p>\n\n\n\n SPECIAL HANDS state inspection with state inspector Jim Wellwood Sat. 5\/2\/26 11-2pm<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hands On Workshop: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 2026 Beekeeping 101 Class<\/em><\/strong> January 31th, 2026 8:30-5 pm at Bloomington High School, Bloomington<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2026 BK 101 Registration<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Past Hands on Events:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 3\/14\/26 Building<\/strong> Event<\/strong>: building nuc and swarm traps, Make and Take your Own Mini Workshop Tab<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n 6\/22\/25 Extraction Event – Demonstration methods of uncapping, use of various equipment, and honey harvesting tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 6\/28\/25 2-4 pm Special – Meet the State Inspectors, Jim Wellwood and Amber Rutledge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 3\/1\/25 Building Event <\/strong>Saturday 12-4 pm Building Nuc and swarm traps<\/p>\n\n\n\n 7\/27\/24 Extraction Event -Demonstration methods of uncapping, use of various equipment, and honey harvesting tools. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 2\/17\/24 Hardware building, Nuc, Frame, smoker lighting Saturday, 10-3 pm<\/p>\n\n\n\n More details on Event Tab<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Among our membership are established beekeepers and apicultural authors: some produce honey; others sell bees and queens. Our members also make health products and wax candles. Others write articles for publications such as American Bee Journal.<\/a> <\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n These experienced beekeepers help mentor and share their knowledge of beekeeping practices with club members during meetings, conduct hands on events such as hive openings in the spring and summer. In the fall, helping extract and sell honey. <\/p>\n\n\n\n CIBA conducts and hosts full day 101 Introduction to Beekeeping <\/em>and Queen Rearing<\/em> mini workshops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BK 101-Learn to manage your hive and harvest honey. How to select hardware and equipment. Where to place your hive. How to do inspection. Promote bees health and seasonal care. Door prizes of a complete hive, bees, Hillco Beekeeping Supplies gift certificates and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n CIBA members receive discounts for events and workshops. Meetings are free and open to all. Meetings are typically the 4th Tuesday of the month. The meetings take place at U of I Extension office, 1615 Commerce Parkway, Bloomington, Il. Check Event<\/i> <\/a>tab for details of meetings and events. The Central Illinois Beekeepers Association (CIBA) is an informational organization that provides members with information about honey bees, beekeeping, and products of the hive such as honey, wax, pollen, and propolis. We are a support group developed to satisfy the needs and education of our beekeeping members. Meetings and events are usually located in and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-38","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/cibabees.org\/cibawp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/38","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/cibabees.org\/cibawp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/cibabees.org\/cibawp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cibabees.org\/cibawp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cibabees.org\/cibawp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38"}],"version-history":[{"count":198,"href":"http:\/\/cibabees.org\/cibawp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/38\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1618,"href":"http:\/\/cibabees.org\/cibawp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/38\/revisions\/1618"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/cibabees.org\/cibawp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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