About

Our Mission

The purpose of the St. Clair Beekeepers Association is to promote interest in bees and beekeeping by such means as encouraging…

  • Good beekeeping practices
  • The utilization of bees for pollination of agricultural crops
  • The dissemination of information about bees and beekeeping
  • Educating future beekeepers

Our history…

The St. Clair Beekeepers Association is one of the oldest organizations promoting beekeeping in Illinois.

An article in the Belleville Daily Advocate dated July 16,1917 states:

Beekeepers Have Formed Organization

A number of beekeepers of Belleville and the vicinity met yesterday at the home of R.V. Dew and formally organized an association to be known as The St. Clair County Beekeepers Association,” the object of which will be to promote the general interests of the pursuit of bee-culture in the county.

One of the features of the meeting was a demonstration in the apiary, where a particular manipulation of the hives and bees took place, to show the advantages of up-to-date methods of beekeeping.  The entire assemblage was right in among the bees and no one was stung, except Mr. Hertel, who purposely received a sting as an antidote for rheumatism.  Interested parties can secure information concerning “The St. Clair County Beekeepers Association” by corresponding with the secretary.

Current Club Officers

Serving as an officer of the club is very  rewarding and you get to meet many other beekeepers.  Officers serve a three year term and are elected at the September meeting.  Please consider serving.

  • President – Marc Mayhew
  • Vice President – Julie McKinney
  • Secretary – Sean Daenzer
  • Treasurer – Andie Weymouth
  • Public Information Officer – Dan Glasscock
  • Director – Phyllis Webb
  • Director – Rick Sanders

Membership Benefits

Being a member of the SCBA has several benefits:

  • SCBA membership includes automatic enrollment as a member of the Illinois State Beekeepers Association
  • Access to our library of books and magazines
  • May post items for sale in our Classifieds
  • May be included on the SCBA Swarm and Cutout list
  • Participate in member-only online forums

Become a member

Membership Meetings

The St. Clair Beekeepers Association meets monthly.  During October through April the meetings are held on last Friday of the month at 7:00 pm.  The meeting location alternates each month (see Meeting Schedule page) between the St. Clair County Farm Bureau and the Madison County Farm Bureau offices.  During the Summer months (May through September) meetings are held outdoors at various apiaries to allow members the opportunity to actually open and inspect beehives and experience beekeeping firsthand.   Click here for Maps

Ken Schaefer talks about frames