The 2025 Fall Conference Tickets are now available
The conference is November 8 & 9
(Saturday & Sunday)
at the Destiny Embassy Suites in Syracuse
311 Hiawatha Blvd W, Syracuse, NY 13204

Guest Speakers:

Steven Coy - Queen Breeder, Beekeeper & Author

Steven Coy is a third-generation beekeeper from Northeast Arkansas. He holds a master's degree in entomology and has experience as a research technician at the USDA Biological Control Research Unit in Stoneville, Mississippi. In 2007, he relocated to the Mississippi Gulf Coast to assist his family in managing a multi-state honey production operation involving 12,000 hives. In 2014, he established Coy Bee Company with a focus on producing Russian queens and nucs. He is a charter member of the Russian Honeybee Breeders Association, has bred Russian bees since 2001, and co-authored Russian Honey Bees. He has served as Treasurer of the Pollinator Stewardship Council, held presidencies in several bee associations—including his current role as President of the American Honey Producers Association.

Talk 1 : Russian Honey Bees : Challenges of Breeding Resistant Stock

Talk 2 : Keeping Bees in Coastal Mississippi

Ferhat Ozturk - Ph.D, Project Director of the HONEY Pathway

Dr. Ferhat Ozturk is the Project Director of the HONEY Pathway and an Associate Professor of Instruction at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). He earned his Ph.D. in molecular and cellular biology from the University of Nevada, Reno, with expertise in gene therapy, bioinformatics, and biochemistry.
Recognized by the American Beekeeping Federation as a medicinal honey expert, Dr. Ozturk combines a strong biomedical background with a passion for exploring honey's therapeutic potential. His research investigates the biological and chemical profiles of mono-floral honeys from around the world, aiming to identify high-bioactivity U.S. honeys that rival or surpass current medical-grade options.Dr. Ozturk leads a $2.9 million USDA-NextGen grant to support the HONEY Pathway, a national initiative to advance medicinal honey research while engaging students in hands-on education focused on local honeys. His work has been featured by Newsweek, Fortune, Science, and numerous local news channels and newspapers. Outside of research and teaching, he enjoys spending time in nature, traveling, and participating in social responsibility projects with his wife and two children

Talk 1 - Honeybee Products and Apitherapy

Explore the fascinating world of honeybee products and apitherapy in this presentation. From the golden elixir of honey to the healing properties of beevenom, this presentation explores the myriad benefits of these natural wonders. Discover the rich history of apitherapy, dating back centuries, and unlock the secrets of its modern applications in holistic wellness. Embark on a journey of exploration and enlightenment, as you uncover the incredible potential of honeybee products and apitherapy in enhancing your health and well-being

Talk 2 - Plants for Medical-Grade Honey

Embark on a journey into the fascinating world of apitherapy with a focus on the medicinal potential of honey derived from select plants. Explore how plants influence honey's antioxidant and antimicrobial properties based on their terroir. Discover the profound impact of plant selection on the therapeutic efficacy of honey and its applications in holistic healthcare. Join us as we delve into the botanical intricacies that shape the diverse array of honeybee products, offering insights into their medicinal benefits and modern applications in wellness.

Fred Dunn - Honey Bee Educator, YouTube celebrity

Fred is a honey bee educator, focusing on backyard small-scale beekeeping. He shares the intricacies of bee biology and management primarily through his YouTube Channel (Frederick Dunn) and podcast, The Way To Bee. He manages many Bee Hive configurations on his rural Pennsylvania property, and has been observing bees and their secrets at close range since 2006.

As a Cornell University Master Beekeeper, Fred uses scientific methods to improve management practices and evaluate tools and hive configurations across a broad spectrum. He seeks validation to many questions and concerns through basic backyard experiments that most beekeepers can do themselves. Original Photos and video sequences are at the core of his presentations.

Tenative schedule:

Saturday, November 8th

8:30am : Registration table opens

8:30am - 10am : Honey show entries accepted

9:15am : Opening Remarks by Tom Shultz, ESHPA 2nd Vice President

9:30 - 10:30am : Fred Dunn - TBA

10:30 - 11:30am : Ferhat Ozturk - Honeybee Products & Apitherapy

11:30 - 12:30pm : Steven Coy - Russian Honey Bees : Challenges of Breeding Resistant Stock

12:30-1:30pm : Lunch

1:30 - 2:30pm : Fred Dunn - TBA

2:30 - 3:30 : Annual ESHPA Business Meeting, including board member nominations

3:30 - 4:00 : Introduction of new board members

6:00 : Reception - Cash bar & light hor d’ouvers

7:00pm : Evening banquet (pre-registration required)

Live auction, silent auction, Roger Morse honey show awards, Beekeeper of the Year award & Friend of the Industry Award

Sunday, November 9th

8:30am : Registration table open

9:15am : Welcome Back

9:30 - 10:30 : Steven Coy - Keeping Bees in Coastal Mississippi

10:30 - 11:30 : Dr. Ferhat Ozturk - Plants for Medical Grade Honey

11:30 - 12pm : Annie Mills, NYS Apiculturist update

12 - 1pm : Lunch

1:00 - 2:00pm : Steven Coy - TBA

2:00 - 3:00 : Fred Dunn - TBA

3:00 - 3:30 - Closing remarks & Conference ends

For our Fall Conference vendors and sponsors

The New York State Honey Map is now live!

These are the ESHPA members that sell honey throughout the state. We will be advertising this heavily on all our new flyers and advertising and especially at the State Fair when people are ALWAYS asking us where to get honey. Of course people come from all over the state, so this is a great opportunity to pick up some new customers! If you would like to be listed on the map, you need to be a current member and fill out the following form.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/171wimSdBVKNTZZGwV1mCdkJ3N1aqjXA0Y2uucLdkymE

Did you know we have a calendar of ALL the beekeeping club meetings throughout the state?

Welcome to The Empire State Honey Producers Association, Inc.
Or for short, ESHPA.

ESHPA open to all beekeepers in NYS, from the hobbyist with one hive, to the commercial migratory beekeeper with thousands. This is made clear in the preamble of the bylaws:

To promote and protect the interests of New York State beekeepers, and

To form an association for mutual benefit of New York State honey producers; to promote and assist in efforts to preserve and protect the honey bee; to assist New York State honey producers in promoting, marketing and publicizing honey and hive products and educate the public to the value of honey bee pollination; to aid in presenting a uniform point of view on concerns of New York State honey producers to state and federal agencies and the general public.

To procure uniformity and certainty in customs and usages of trade and commerce, and of those having a common trade, business, financial or professional interest; to promote a more enlarged and friendly intercourse among beekeepers.

ESHPA was originally founded in 1870 as the “New York State Bee-Keepers Association”, with dues of $1 (considered too high by many potential members). Ladies interested in beekeeping could join with just a signature.

Today ESHPA is a 501(c) (5) Federal Tax exempt corporation with a governing board elected by the general membership. Full bylaws are available at ESHPA.org . Regional “North-Eastern” “Southern” “Western” and “Long Island” directors are elected to three-year terms. Officers are elected to two year terms.

The majority of ESHPA members have less than 50 hives according to a voluntary online survey conducted in 2012.

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