About Veterans' Beekeeping School

The Central Ohio Beekeepers Charitable Foundation and OSU Extension are hosting a program to help central Ohio veterans get up and running as beekeepers.

How Does it Work?

Year One

Students will receive a combination of classroom and hands-on training at no cost to them.

1. Four (4) in-person classes will be taught by experienced beekeepers from the Central Ohio Beekeepers Association (COBA) and will be held at the Kunz-Brundige OSU Franklin County Extension Building at the OSU Main Campus. 2026 Indoor Sessions: Saturdays, March 28, 

April 4, April 11, and April 18 from 9:30a to 12p.

CLASS SCHEDULE  -  PLEASE NOTE NEW REVISED DATES

Sat. March 28

9:00  Doors open. Sign in. Pick up packets

9:30 Meet with mentors.

10am  *Go over the Veterans Program. Welcome, Introductions, Pre-

Program Survey Questions Bob Bowers President COBAF, COBA Trustee.

10:15 *How to get started. Equipment and Bees. [See Ch. 1 in textbook.]

Dale Gelter COBA Instructor.  

11:30 Q & A  

11:45 Meet Cohort members/Try on veils/jackets for size

12:00 Dismissal

Sat. April 4 

9:00 Doors open. Sign in. 

9:30 Meet with mentors.

10am *Hive Management. [See Ch. 3 in textbook.]

Rod Pritchard Former COBA President, Former OSBA 

Treasurer, COBA Beekeeper of the Year 2019.

11am   *Planting for Honey Bees.

Claudia Khourey-Bowers Ph.D. COBAF Secretary,

COBA Vice President. 

11:45 Q & A

12:00 Dismissal

Sat. April 11

9:00 Doors open. Sign in. 

9:30 Meet with mentors.

10am *Basics of Honey Bee Biology. [See Ch. 2 in textbook.]

Bob Hooker Former OSBA President, OSBA Educator.

11am *Threats to the Hive. [See Ch. 7 in textbook.]

Chris Cree Cree’s Bees

12:00 Dismissal

Sat. April 18 

9:00 Doors open. Sign in. 

9:30 Meet with mentors.

10am *Products of the Hive. [See Chs. 4 & 6 in textbook.]

Winnie Williams COBA Treasurer, 2017 COBA Beekeeper of the Year

10:45  *Bee Safe. [See Ch.7 in textbook.]

 Med Lutmerding M.D. COBAF V.P., COBA President.

11:15 What’s Next?  *COBA Calendar and Bee yards.

First Year Bee Yard at OSU Joe Wince & Others

 Easton Apiary Bob Bowers & Mike Hatter

Scotts/Miracle-Gro Marysville Rich Herman/Rich Colvin

Liberty Mutual – Winnie Williams

Franklin Park Conservatory – Dale Gelter

OSU Marion – Bob Bowers

1

1:35 VBS Program Parts – Attendance, Workshops, Outreach [Claudia]

11:45 Meet with Cohort members 

12:00 Dismissal 

Next Event: Annual Bee Installation, FYBY, April 18th @ 2:00 p.m. Wear Veils!

2. Classes will be followed by 25 (twenty-five) weekly, hands-on sessions in the apiary beeyard.  Instructors and mentors will assist students in learning how to become great beekeepers.

3. Students are required to purchase protective clothing (jacket with veil costing approx. $100).  Scholarships are available if needed. 

4. Hands-on sessions will continue from late April to late September 2026.

5. Required Attendance: a minimum of 3 indoor sessions and 18 outdoor sessions is required for satisfactory course completion.

CLASS LOCATIONS 2026-2027

2026 Indoor Sessions: Saturdays, March 28, April 4, April 11, and April 18 from 9:30a to 12p at the Kunz-Brundige OSU Franklin County Extension Building, 2548 Carmack Road, Columbus, Ohio.

2026 Outdoor Sessions:  begin with bee package installation on Saturday April 18 at 1pm and run on mostly Wednesday evenings (6:00 – 8:00 p.m.) from April 22 through end of September, at the Ohio State University Apiary, 2490 Carmack Rd., Columbus. Once a month, these outdoor sessions are on Tuesday evening. Some sessions will be held at the Easton Apiary (weekends) and will be integrated into the required outdoor sessions.

The 25 outdoor sessions include group hive inspections and a potluck dinner. Students and mentors collectively tend the hives. Featured speakers and Q & A sessions are included.

Year Two.

In April 2027, participants who successfully complete Year One will be given a hive, smoker, hive tool, mite test kit, and feeder. The hive includes a package of bees and woodenware (hive bodies) to house them. This hive will be setup at the student’s site (apiary). The student’s assigned mentor will help guide them.   

Your responsibilities for Year 2 include: 1) attending bee yard sessions at least once per month; 

2) attending the first indoor class session with the incoming Cohort to establish a mentoring relationship with one of the new participants; and 3) help your mentee when they get their new hive in Spring 2027. 

How Much Does This Program Cost?

Students are required to purchase protective clothing (jacket with veil) costing approximately $100. Scholarships are available for protective clothing if needed. Bees, woodenware, and equipment will be provided free of charge to students who complete the first-year program. 

How Do I Apply?

To apply, submit an application online.   The application is available here.  Deadline for applications is February 4, 2026

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScn3y8KbiknjH5Y6yGyvU2Imnpt5e8U-OpBHejH-TZfZWb6mQ/viewform?usp=header

Thirty (30) applicants will be chosen for an in-person interview to be held on February 21, 2026. 

Eligibility Requirements

1. Honorable Discharge. Please bring your DD-214 to the interview.

2. Applicant must reside in the following Central Ohio counties; Delaware, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Hocking, Knox, Licking, Logan, Madison, Marion, Morrow, Perry, Pickaway, Ross, Union.

How Do I Get More Information?

For more information, contact Claudia Khourey-Bowers at 330 353-2315.