Beekeepers Association of Rowan County

The Youth Apprentice Program is a bi-annual Program sponsored by the BARC, Rowan Co. Farm Bureau and James River Equipment - Salisbury. The goal of the BARC Youth Apprentice Beekeeper Program is to provide an opportunity for youth from ages 10-14 to experience the art of beekeeping and understand the value of honeybees to our environment.  The program will provide successful candidate(s) the setup of their first hive at their house (or approved location) and give them the knowledge needed to be a successful beekeeper through a mentoring program, classes and association meetings and/or workshops.  They will be given the necessary equipment, beekeeping gear, honeybees, and membership in the BARC (apx. $500 retail value), which would become theirs after the successful completion of the 2-year apprenticeship.  They’ll be asked to keep records of their experience via observation journal/forms of all their hive visits.  Towards the end of each year, they’ll be asked to give a short presentation to the association of what they have learned about beekeeping.

 

ELIGIBILITY & QUALIFICATIONS

1. Applicants must live within Rowan County, NC and be between the ages of 10 and 14.

2. Applicants must have permission and agreement from parent(s) or guardian(s).

3. Must have the ability to work outside and perform tasks with bees including some lifting of heavy items.

4. Must have the ability to work both independently and with mentor(s).

5. Must demonstrate the enthusiasm, responsibility, and dedication to learn and participate in all aspects of beekeeping.

6. Must be willing to keep hive visit records throughout the years of their apprenticeship.

7. Must be willing to present their beekeeping experience and what they learned at the September BARC meeting.

8. Applications must be submitted to the BARC no later than July 15th of the current year.

 

BARC YOUTH PROGRAM COMMITTEE

Applications will be reviewed and selected by the BARC Youth Program Committee.  The committee will arrange an interview with selected applicants and their parent(s)/guardian(s).  The apprenticeship will then be awarded to the final selected applicant(s) at the September BARC meeting.

 

APPLICATIONS

Applications are available at and can be returned to:

• NC Cooperative Extension, Rowan Co. Center – 2727A Old Concord Rd, Salisbury, NC 28146

• Farm Bureau, Rowan Co. – 304 Birdie Dr., Salisbury, NC 28147

• James River Equipment, Salisbury – 1571 Julian Rd., Granite Quarry, NC 28146

• Or e-mail to request forms at Info@rowanbeekeepers.org

• See more information on Facebook  - Beekeepers Association of Rowan County

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CONTRACT

A contract will be signed at the time the Apprentice Program awards are made.