Our OCBA club speaker for March 13 will be Ashby Miller, who owns and operates Ashby Farms in Burlington with his wife, Cori. His topic is “Quality Queens from your backyard” and he will be bringing equipment to demonstrate some techniques for you to try at home.

Together the Millers manage about 500 colonies in 16 apiaries. Their main focus has been propagating varroa-mite resistant (VSH) stock through a rigorous series of selection criteria. In addition to selling Queens and Nucs, they are NC Department of Agriculture Certified Sourwood Honey Producers, and they also provide pollination services. 

Ashby is a frequent speaker to bee clubs, interview subject on YouTube, and he often shares teaching videos on YouTube @Ashby_Farms_NC.

As usual we will meet at the NC Cooperative Extension at 1020 US Highway 70 West in Hillsborough.

We start at 6 pm with potluck appetizers and desserts so please bring something to share. At 6:30 pm, we’ll hear about the results of the recent survey of current and former OCBA members. The program begins at 7 pm and is followed by a very brief business update.