The Illinois Amish Heritage Center in partnership with the University of Illinois Extension presents “Let’s Learn about Bees” to be held on Saturday, July 8, 2023. The hours for the event are from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. CDT. This event is part of a new “enhanced Saturday” program that will be held periodically throughout the summer.

The purpose of the event is to educate on the importance of bees in our food system and show how you can create a bee friendly habitat. Many Amish have hives on their farms and have created bee gardens that attract pollinator insects. Honey is harvested from the hive and used in various recipes. Excess honey and related by-products are often sold.

An “Introduction to Honeybees” will be presented at 10:00 a.m. by Master Gardener, Pat Conner. Learn some interesting information about Honeybees, how they fit into our world, and what each of us can do to support them. The maximum number of participants is 20, so arrive early for entry.

At 1:00 p.m., Pat Conner will present “Beekeeping the First Year”, an overview of what the first year of beekeeping might look like. We’ll discuss supplies, timing, activities, and much more. This is NOT beekeeping training, just an informative introduction. The maximum number of participants is 20, so arrive early for entry.

Come and spend the day learning about bees and touring our campus. See the 1879 Miller/Herschberger Barn that was relocated and raised in 2022, plus the restored 1882 Daniel Schrock home that has been beautifully outfitted with period furnishings and fixtures. The 1865 Moses Yoder home will be open as well as our German Schoolhouse and Yoder Workshop.

Shady Maple Concessions will be on site selling sandwiches, fries, and drinks. All funds are used for the continued growth of the Illinois Amish Heritage Center Campus. Everyone is welcome and invited to come out for a day of fun and learning for the entire family. The campus offers convenient parking with restroom facilities on site and is also handicapped accessible.

The Illinois Amish Heritage Center is located on Illinois 133 nine miles west of Arcola or 3.5 miles east of Arthur on Illinois Route 133. For more information, call Jim Fleming at 217-791-1026 or online www.illinoisamish.org and be sure to like us on Facebook, Illinois Amish Heritage Center. This is an outside event and is completely reliant upon the weather. Decisions affecting activities may be made on site without notice of printed and broadcast announcements.