2025 SEMBA Spring Conference Agenda

Morning Program

6:30 AM - Building Opens

Volunteers and vendors begin setup.

7:15 AM - Registration & Vendor Area Open

Welcome Desk 
Registration and silent auction begin.

Enjoy complimentary fresh hot coffee and gourmet doughnuts!

8:00–8:15 AM - Welcome and Opening Remarks

Ted Scott Community Room
A warm welcome to all attendees.

8:15–9:15 AM - Keynote Address

Pesticides: The Hidden Harm to Bees and All of Us

Dr. Humberto Boncristiani
Ted Scott Community Room

Explore the dangers of pesticide exposure to honeybees and the broader environmental impacts, and how we can reduce these effects for the benefit of bees and humans.

9:30–9:45 AM - Announcements

A message from Ana Heck and SEMBA Club updates.

9:30–9:45 AM - Break

Take a moment to explore our exhibitor area and enjoy time with our honored guests.

Track Overview

Before diving into the breakout sessions, here’s a quick overview of the different tracks:

• Beginner Beekeeping: This track focuses on foundational beekeeping skills, ideal for those just starting their journey with bees.
• Hive Management & Sustainability: Explore strategies for managing hives effectively, with a focus on sustainability and keeping bees healthy.
• Health & Pest Management: Learn about the common diseases affecting bees, pest management, and how to ensure the health of your colony, as well as human health implications of bee products and pest treatments.
• Hive Products & Innovations: Discover how to harvest and innovate with the products from your hives, including honey, wax, and more.

Breakout Session Block 1 (9:45–10:45 AM)

• My First Year of Beekeeping: No Mistakes Only Lessons - Kim Marie Wood (Beginner Beekeeping, Room A112)
  Learn from Kim's first-year journey through the challenges and lessons of beekeeping.
• Swarms, Splits, and Sustainability - Richard Wahl (Hive Management & Sustainability, Ted Scott Community Room)
  Understand swarm management, splitting hives, and maintaining sustainability in beekeeping.
• Top 5 Diseases Seen in the Hive (from the Veterinary Perspective) - Dr. Melissa Holahan (Health & Pest Management, Room D100)
  Explore common bee diseases, identification, treatment, and prevention.
• The Art of Cut Comb Honey - Clay Ottoni (Hive Products & Innovations, Room A225)
  Learn the techniques of harvesting and preparing cut comb honey for market.

10:45–11:00 AM - Break

Enjoy a moment to chat with fellow beekeepers, relax, and browse our vendor booths.

Breakout Session Block 2 (11:00 AM–12:00 PM)

• What to Expect When You Don’t Know What to Expect - Lisa Stinson (Beginner Beekeeping, Room A112)
  Prepare for surprises in your first year of beekeeping.
• OTS (On-the-Spot) Queen Rearing - Melvin Disselkoen (Hive Management & Sustainability, Ted Scott Community Room)
  Learn practical queen rearing techniques.
• Apitherapy: Rx for Health, Naturally from the Honeybee - Kristine Jacobson (Health & Pest Management, Room D100)
  Discover the healing properties of bee products in apitherapy and bee venom therapy, which can help with various health conditions.
• The Business of Beekeeping - Jamie Walters (Hive Products & Innovations, Room A225)
  Explore the business side of beekeeping, including how to turn your passion into a sustainable venture. Learn about pricing, marketing, and business strategies that can help your apiary thrive.

12:00–1:00 PM - Luncheon

Café & 4 Tree Atrium

Enjoy a delicious, pre-selected lunch, thoughtfully prepared to satisfy your appetite while you network with fellow attendees. The menu features fresh ingredients, balanced flavors, and a variety of options to accommodate different preferences.

Pre-Paid Lunch Menu Options

(Orders must be placed by March 12th to ensure availability. After this date, lunch will be available for $20 on the day of the event, but supplies are extremely limited and will be sold on a first-come-first-served basis.)

• Manhattan Roast Beef (13-Grain): Lean roast beef, crisp lettuce, and cream cheese with tangy barbecue sauce on hearty 13-grain bread.
• Michigan Cherry Chicken (Sourdough): Tender chicken breast mixed with dried Leelanau Michigan cherries, sweet celery, onions, and candied walnuts, layered on fresh sourdough bread.
• Vegetarian (13-Grain): A medley of mushrooms, cucumbers, vine-ripened tomatoes, sprouts, roasted red peppers, and creamy avocado on lettuce, topped with cheddar cheese and pesto mayonnaise.
• Granny Apple Turkey (Honey Wheat): Sliced roasted turkey breast paired with tangy green apples, Havarti cheese, and crisp lettuce, drizzled with a light apple cider vinaigrette on honey wheat bread.

Price: $18 pre-order, $20 on the day (limited quantities, first-come-first-serve). All pre-paid lunches come with a dill pickle, freshly baked cookie, side of fresh fruit, a refreshing mint, and a carbonated beverage.

For those who have already registered but did not opt for lunch, you can preorder your lunch via our website's shop before the deadline. For those who haven't registered yet, lunch can be selected directly in the event registration form.

Afternoon Program

Breakout Session Block 3 (1:00–2:00 PM)

• Apiary & Bee Risk Management - Donovan Bredenkamp (Beginner Beekeeping, Room A112)
  Gain insights into managing the risks associated with beekeeping, including environmental factors, disease prevention, and legal considerations.
• Treatment-Averse Beekeeping: Avoiding the Chemical Treadmill and the Future of Resistance Breeding - James Lee (Hive Management & Sustainability, Ted Scott Community Room)
  Explore treatment-free beekeeping practices and resistance breeding.
• Colony Necropsy and Varroa - Ana Heck (Health & Pest Management, Room D100)
  Learn how to conduct a necropsy to determine colony collapse causes, focusing on varroa mites.
• Psychedelic and Functional Mushroom Honeys: Think Outside the Jar - Cecilia Infante (Hive Products & Innovations, Room A225)
  Explore the unique world of functional mushroom honeys.

2:00–2:15 PM - Break

Take a break to relax and enjoy the event.

Breakout Session Block 4 (2:15–3:15 PM)

• The Different Bees & Their Jobs - Andrew Connor (Beginner Beekeeping, Room A112)
  Learn about the fascinating roles of different types of bees within the hive.
• Hive Inspection Fundamentals - Michael Sautter (Hive Management & Sustainability, Ted Scott Community Room)
  Hands-on session for beginners covering basic hive inspections and checking for disease and pest issues.
• Health Benefits of Hive Products - Senad Livadic (Health & Pest Management, Room D100)
  Explore the many health benefits of beehive products, including honey, royal jelly, and propolis.
• Propolis & Pollen: The Other Gold in Them Thar Hives - Rich Wieske (Hive Products & Innovations, Room A225)
  Learn about two valuable bee products—propolis and pollen—how to harvest them, and the health benefits they provide.

3:15–3:30 PM - Break

Silent auction ends.

3:30–4:00 PM - Expert Q&A Panel

A Q&A panel with Dr. Humberto Boncristiani and a distinguished group of guest speakers.

4:00–4:30 PM - Closing Ceremony

Ted Scott Community Room

Speaker thank you and acknowledgements, prize giveaway winners announced, final words and goodbyes.