Youth Beekeeping Education Grants

The Texas Honey Bee Education Association (THBEA) seeks to increase the number of Texas youth (ages 13-21 as of December 31, 2023) who are interested in beekeeping. To that end, THBEA is offering a financial grant to: Texas Beekeepers Association (TBA) – member beekeeping associations; FFA; and 4-H programs. Grant funds will be used for the development, and partial funding, of Texas youth beekeeping education programs.

Funds from this THBEA grant can be used to:

  • Create new youth beekeeping education programs in organizations that do not currently have them.
  • Re-start an organization’s inactive youth education program.
  • Assist organizations with limited resources to expand an existing youth education program.

Youth Education Program Elements

For the purposes of this grant, a youth beekeeping education program must contain at least the following elements:

  1. A program sponsor assigned by the awardee organization. This sponsor will be responsible for program oversight and will be the primary contact for the THBEA.
  2. Instruction in basic beekeeping methods using written materials and/or a published book in basic beekeeping. (See website https://texasbeekeeping101.com)
  3. Instruction in basic honey bee biology using written materials and/or a published book in basic beekeeping
  4. A schedule of instruction covering at least a nine-month period utilizing experienced beekeepers as instructors/mentors.
  5. Youth participants will have access to a mentor who can provide individual education, assistance, and modeling.
  6. An opportunity for the youth participants to share their knowledge with other youth interested in beekeeping
  7. A final summary presentation by the youth participants to their own organization membership and to the THBEA board. This may include written material, photo slides, video recording, or PowerPoint presentation. Some presentations may be selected to be shown at the TBA Convention in November or be highlighted on THBEA/TBA websites, the TBA Journal, or on our social media channels.

The grant can be used to begin a new youth beekeeping education program, to restart a program that has become dormant, or to help clubs with limited resources expand their program.

Grants may be used to fund traditionally styled programs and youth beekeeping scholarship programs. However, THBEA desires to encourage applicants to consider non-traditional youth beekeeping education programs as well. Creativity is encouraged! The goal is to increase the number of Texas youth engaged in beekeeping as a hobby or profession.

THBEA is offering a total of $10,000 in grants up to a maximum of $2,000 per awardee in 2023.

The grant will be awarded to TBA-member associations, FFA, or 4-H programs in Texas which do not currently have youth involved in a beekeeping education program, or that have limited resources for expanding such a program. For example, an organization may have a traditional youth scholarship program and may want to start a new beekeeping program to educate public school children or begin a honey queen/ambassador program. Another example might be to use the grant money to purchase honey bees or equipment for an FFA or 4-H beekeeping program.

Grant Award Criteria

THBEA will set up a three-person committee to decide on the grant awardees and make recommendations to the board.

Committee members will use their best efforts to gather information and use their judgment to assess the likelihood of successful implementation of an organization’s proposal and the potential for continuing success of the program. Priority will be given to organizations that do not currently have any youth program in place. The THBEA board will review and approve the committee’s recommendations before awarding the grants.

Upon grant approval, the THBEA will assign an internal contact for the grant. This contact will have content knowledge and experience and can serve as a valuable resource for the program.

Grant Payment and Reporting Requirements

  • The granted organization will supply the THBEA Vice-chair with a reliable point of contact (phone and email) within one month of award notification. This contact information must be kept updated throughout the year.
  • The granted organization will report twice in 2023 on the accomplishments of their youth program. An interim report from the organization is due before June 15, 2023. A final report, including a presentation by the youth involved in the program, is due before October 15, 2023. These reports may be published in the TBA Journal.
  • Each granted organization will write at least one article about their youth’s beekeeping experience and submit that to the TBA Journal. Preferably, this article should be written by one of the youth participants (with help and supervision of their mentor). A one-year gift subscription to the TBA Journal will be awarded to each of the granted organizations participating in the 2023 program.
  • Beekeeping equipment suppliers may offer discounts for THBEA grant awardee organizations to purchase beekeeping equipment for their youth beekeeping education program. THBEA will provide the organizations with the names of suppliers participating in the program.

Grant Timeline

  • Applications accepted from February 1, 2023 to March 1, 2023
  • THBEA committee and Board review completed by March 9, 2023
  • Awardees notified on or before March 31, 2023 and award letters issued.
  • Disbursement of funds will be issued as follows: 100% of the award will be paid within 30 days of receipt of awardee’s acceptance agreement.

Jerry Maxwell
THBEA Vice Chair