Jamie Walters

Jamie is currently 55 yrs young, married to Dalyla for 35 yrs, 2 daughters ~ Jessica & Ashlee, and 1 granddaughter Kaydee. My background began as an electrician, electrical engineer, and then a CMM Technician. Later moving on as a volunteer firefighter, Associate Deputy with Defiance County Sheriff's Office and traveling IT Tech for H&R Block Corporate.

My outdoor awakening started after my father passed away. Wanting to keep his plants at his funeral and having a black thumb. A transformation from OSU Master Gardener, Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist, Life Member of OSBA, OSU Pollinator Specialist ~ Advocate, Vice-President of Northwest Ohio Beekeepers, Instrumental Insemination Certified by Purdue University, President of Black Swamp Beekeepers, ODA County Bee Inspector, OSBA Honey Judge, President of (Ohio's 4th) Pollinator Sanctuary & Training Facility of Defiance County, and starting from within OSBA as a volunteer to my current position as OSBA President for a second term.

I currently run 40ish colonies of bees through the summer, rearing queens (open mated & instrumentally inseminated), selling nucs, and helping my wife produce hive products. I fight for the pollinators by having healthy bees, understanding (IPM) integrated pest management, planting pollinator habitat, and honey bee animal husbandry. My goal is to help the next generation of people who volunteer and want to join these hobbies, to be sustainable, and enjoy life as much as I have.