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HISTORY OF LINCOLN LAND BEEKEEPERS
ASSOCIATION
In 1975 on a cold January night a group of folks came to the Sangamon
County Extension Building on North Dirksen Parkway to hear an address by
Dr. Elbert R. Jaycox who was the University of Illinois Horticulture
Department Extension Apiculturist. In contrast to the outside
temperature, the conference room was warmed by and estimated sixty to
eighty people who had some interest in honey bees and little else to do
on such a cold night. Dr. Jaycox’ address on apiculture (beekeeping to
the laymen) was arranged by Jim Hayward, who at the time was the
horticulture advisor at the extension service. This presentation was to
affect the lives of some attendees more than anyone could imagine.
Soon after, at the urging of Jim Hayward, an informal group of the
folks who had attended that meeting began monthly through the auspices
of the extension service. At the first meeting the State Superintendent
of Apiary Inspection, Carl Killion, spoke to the group. The following
year, the University of Illinois extension service offered a fourteen
week beekeeping course that could be taken as a college credit
(Horticulture E-199). This unusual class conducted by Dr. Jaycox, met
evenings at Lanphier High School and consisted of about twenty-five
attentive students of various ages. Most of those students were to
become members of a fledging beekeepers club.
Upon completion of the beekeeping course, at the suggestion of Jim
Hayward, the Lincoln Land Beekeepers Association was formally organized,
bylaws written and officers elected. By this time, Carl Killion had
retired and was succeeded by his son Gene Killion, who like his father,
was recognized as an authority by the beekeeping and honey production
industry. Gene was very supportive of the new association, providing
advice to members and speaking at the Lincoln Land Association meeting.
In 1982, a change in the rules of the Illinois State Beekeepers
Association permitted the Lincoln Land Beekeepers Association to become
one of the first chapters of the Illinois State Beekeepers Association.
Gone from the U. of I. is Dr. Jaycox who actively promoted apiculture
at the University. Also gone is Jim Hayward and most of Lincoln Land’s
charter members.
Remaining is a viable organization of hobbyist beekeepers who will
always welcome new members and will offer them more advice (some sound
and some maybe not so sound) than they can possibly heed (some sound and
some maybe not so sound). Meetings continue to be held at the Sangamon
County Extension Building on North Dirksen Parkway.
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Welcome
Beekeepers
