Bonus Short - 2026 Heartland Apicultural Society Conference
The Heartland Apicultural Society returns to Michigan State University May 30–31, 2026, bringing together beekeepers from across the region for two days of education, networking, and hands-on learning. In this Beekeeping Today Podcast Short, Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman welcome Ana Heck of Michigan State University and Dr. Robyn Underwood of Penn State University to preview the upcoming conference and explain why this event offers something valuable for everyone from beginning beekeepers to experienced sideliners.
This year’s conference emphasizes practical learning. Ana explains that Michigan State University is setting up apiaries near the conference center so participants can attend in-hive workshops covering colony inspections, splits, varroa management, queen finding, and other management topics. Unlike many spring conferences held during colder months, the late-May timing allows attendees to work directly with live colonies.
The conference will also include laboratory workshops focused on honey bee anatomy, dissections, and microscopic diagnosis of bacterial brood diseases including American foulbrood and European foulbrood. Participants will have opportunities to work with microscopes and diagnostic techniques under the guidance of university researchers and instructors.
Featured keynote speakers include Dr. Jennifer Tsuruda, Dr. Jeff Harris, Dr. Reed Johnson, and Dr. Robyn Underwood. Robin discusses her presentations on drones and drone congregation areas, spotted lanternfly honeydew honey, and efficient apiary inspections.
Ana also outlines conference registration details, early registration pricing, and the limited-capacity laboratory sessions available for attendees who register early.
Whether you are a first-year beekeeper or a seasoned beekeeper looking to deepen your knowledge, the Heartland Apicultural Society Conference offers a strong mix of science, practical management, and community.
Registration and conference information can be found at:
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[Bonus Short] 2026 Heartland Apicultural Society Conference
Jeff Ott
Welcome to Beekeeping Today Podcast Shorts, your quick dive into the latest buzz in beekeeping.
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Becky Masterman
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Jeff Ott
Hey everybody, welcome to the short. We're here to tell you about an upcoming conference. The Heartland Apicultural Society Conference. At the end of May, we have with us Anna Heck and Robyn Underwood. Welcome, ladies, to the show. To the short. Let's hear about this HAS conference.
Ana Heck
Yeah, so Michigan State University is hosting this conference at the end of May. So it'll be Saturday, May 30th and Sunday, May 31st on campus. We're really excited about it. We're going to set up some apiaries near the conference center so we can do some in-hive classes and workshops. There are laboratory workshops that beekeepers can sign up for. We have four out of state keynote presenters and we have a lot of other breakout sessions, so lots of different beekeeping topics that'll be covered.
Jeff Ott
I like the whole concept of the the workshops, the hands-on workshops, uh that doesn't happen very often and the that you're setting these up, that makes it really special, doesn't it?
Ana Heck
the Michigan Beekeepers Association Spring Conference and that normally happens in early March or late February. So we don't do in hive workshops at that conference. So we're really excited to host this conference where we'll be able to do some in-hive workshops.
Jeff Ott
Besides workshops, you have speakers lined up as well?
Ana Heck
We uh do. So there are some speakers from Michigan, and then we also have Dr. Jennifer Ceruda from University of Tennessee Knoxville. We have Dr. Jeff Harris from Mississippi State. We have Dr. Reed Johnson from the Ohio State University, and we have Dr. Robyn Underwood from Pennsylvania State. Yay, Robin.
Jeff Ott
Yay Robyn. Yeah, Robin's here too. Say hi Robyn.
Becky Masterman
Robyn, what are you gonna be talking about?
Dr. Robyn Underwood
Hello. Yeah, I'm excited to come. I I've not been to an HAS conference before and uh so I'll be able to talk all about drones and DCAs. talking about the spotted lantern fly honey dew honey and I get to also do an apiary inspection and tell you how to be efficient.
Becky Masterman
Are you thinking that this is for beginner beekeepers or is it beginners and sideliners and all the way up to commercial beekeepers for the audience?
Ana Heck
I think it's going to be for anyone who's excited to learn more about beekeeping and honey bee health. So lots of different levels, but definitely for those beekeepers who are interested in learning more and want to socialize with other beekeepers.
Jeff Ott
What are the dates of the conference?
Ana Heck
The conference will be Saturday, May 30th, and Sunday, May 31st. So it's the weekend after Memorial Day weekend. What will the lab work entail? What will be keep what can be keepers expect to learn? Yeah, so there's two different laboratory workshops that beekeepers can sign up for. One is instructed by Dr. Zachary Wong who teaches anatomy and honey bee dissection. He does a really nice workshop where he shows people how to use the microscope and look at the honey bees underneath it and see all kinds of different cool features. And then the other laboratory workshop will be taught by Dr. Peter Fowler, who is a veterinarian and just completed his PhD with Dr. Megan Milbrath. He does a lot with European Foulbrood and American Foulbrood. And so he's going to be showing uh participants how to identify the disease causing agents under the microscope.
Jeff Ott
What's the uh the cost of the conference?
Ana Heck
For both days, Saturday and Sunday Early registration, which closes May 3rd, is 100 $125. Regular registration, which closes May 25th. for both Saturday and Sunday is one hundred and seventy-five dollars.
Jeff Ott
That is a good price. So so you have multiple speakers, you have the in-hive Workshops are those extra or are those included with the registration fee?
Ana Heck
There's an additional fee for the laboratory workshops, but the APRA classes and workshops are included in registration.
Jeff Ott
Is there a limited number of beekeepers for those
Ana Heck
There are limited spots for the laboratory workshops and for some of the APRA classes. So if you want the best selection, we are encouraging people to sign up early. But we will still plan to have some apiaries that are open to anyone who so you can decide the day of if you want to put a B suit on and join the in-hype stuff.
Jeff Ott
Thank you, Anna, and thank you, Robin, for the update on this year's Heartland Apicultural Society. Conference May 30th and 31st at Michigan State University. Links to show registration can be found in today's shorts notes
PhD, Extension Educator - Apiculture
Robyn received her BSc in Entomology and Applied Ecology from the University of Delaware and her PhD in Entomology from the University of Manitoba. She joined Penn State in 2017 and became a Penn State Extension Educator in 2022. She creates educational materials, webinars, and workshops including beekeeping content for all levels. Her research program focuses on applied honey bee questions. In particular, she has been studying organic colony management and its impacts on honey bee health and beekeeping economics. She is also studying spotted lanternfly honeydew honey and its use as a medical grade honey.
Robyn's research and extension aspirations work hand in hand. Conducting scientifically sound research projects to study beekeeper-applied questions is critically important. Bringing the results of the projects to the beekeepers through extension products then improves the industry while making beekeeping a more successful venture.
Apiculture Extension Educator
Ana Heck is Michigan State University's Apiculture Extension Educator. Her role engages beekeepers, growers, pesticide applicators, and home gardeners to improve pollinator health. Ana holds a master’s degree in public policy and a graduate minor in entomology from the University of Minnesota.