Lorain County OH Beekeepers End Of Summer Classic

Meyer Hatchery had the pleasure of being a guest and vendor at the First Annual 2021 Lorain County Ohio Beekeepers End of Summer Classic on September 11th. The Lorain County Beekeepers Association is a wonderful organization whose mission is “to promote Beekeeping through education, cooperation, or any other efficient means.” This event did not disappoint, and there was something for everyone. Not only did this even feature beekeeping, but it also featured other fun attractions for all ages.

The End of Summer Classic featured guest speakers, including Meyer Hatchery. We shared our love of poultry with others and spoke on how to raise chickens from the very beginning with our talk on Chicken 101. We spoke about successfully brooding chicks and what to do once your birds are fully feathered. We also talked about the different feed needs and housing requirements. After asking the crowd who currently raises chickens, we were surprised that nobody who attended our talk owned poultry.

This event also featured Eugene Makovec, an editor from the American Bee Journal who spoke on The State of Beekeeping in the USA, and Tom Nolan from NOD Apiary Products. Mr. Nolan educated attendees on sustainable beekeeping with organic Varroa control. Dr. James Tew from Wooster, Ohio, and Earl Hoffman of Strong Microbials, Inc. attended as guest speakers.

Along with speakers, this event provided fantastic education booths for guests of all ages to visit. The OSU Extension Lorain County Master Gardener volunteers, Oberlin Heritage Center, Firelands Flyfishers, Kids and Beekeeping, collaborative Chambers Alliance, and Mary’s Insurance team were all available to answer questions and teach about their organization, topics, and or businesses.

Lining the buildings was an incredible show of cars. Trucks, bikes, corvettes, and more cruised on in to show off their well-loved, freshly polished vehicles. Visitors could also take a ride on an Amish horse and buggy, participate in the dunk tank, enter to win door prizes, enjoy the music of a local banjo player and dine on delicious local fair food.

For those who love to shop, the End of Summer Classic housed an entire building of vendors, including Meyer Hatchery. Attendees could shop for everything from bee supplies from Queen Right Colonies and Brooke Haven Apiary to homemade sourdough loaves of bread by Fallen Angel Bakeshop. Vendors also included Penfield Forge, M-R Alpacas Ranch, Over the Top Wreaths, and more! This was an excellent opportunity to treat yourself or get started on holiday shopping.

The Meyer Hatchery vendor booth at the End of Summer Classic was an exciting experience. We were able to meet existing customers, invite new customers and talk face to face with those who had questions. We were able to answer questions on predator issues, losses, breed types, suggest products, and hear stories about people’s favorite Meyer Hatchery chickens. It was fun seeing people excited about chickens.

We are grateful for the opportunity to represent Meyer Hatchery at the Lorain County Beekeepers End of Summer Classic and hope that this will be an event to attend for years to come. Our passion is poultry, and being able to share that with others is a gift.