Bonus Short - 2026 Midwest Honey Bee Expo – Part 3
Release Date: 04/17/2026
Queen Series: Ang Roell on Queen Breeding and Hygienic Genetics (385)
Beekeeping Today Podcast
Ang Roell of joins Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman for another installment of the Beekeeping Today Podcast Queen Series. Ang shares the story behind building a migratory queen breeding operation and explains how years of working with Carniolan, Russian, and hygienic stock shaped the breeding philosophy behind their Massachusetts-based apiary. The conversation explores the realities of raising queens professionally, including drone saturation, mating yards, queen cells, virgins, instrumental insemination, and the challenges of selecting for Varroa-sensitive hygienic behavior while maintaining...
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Bonus Short - 2026 Heartland Apicultural Society Conference
Beekeeping Today Podcast
The Heartland Apicultural Society returns to Michigan State University May 30–31, 2026, bringing together beekeepers from across the region for two days of education, networking, and hands-on learning. In this Beekeeping Today Podcast Short, Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman welcome of Michigan State University and of Penn State University to preview the upcoming conference and explain why this event offers something valuable for everyone from beginning beekeepers to experienced sideliners. This year’s conference emphasizes practical learning. Ana explains that Michigan State University is...
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Bee Science: Spring Colony Growth - Managing Expansion, Nutrition, and Swarming
Beekeeping Today Podcast
Spring is a season of rapid change inside the hive, and in this Bee Science segment, Dr. Dewey Caron walks through what drives colony expansion—and how beekeepers can respond effectively. Dewey emphasizes that spring growth is fundamentally tied to pollen availability and favorable flying weather. Colonies in warmer climates may expand gradually, while northern colonies often experience a compressed and intense buildup. This variability makes local awareness and timing essential. Nutrition plays a central role. Research going back to Heather Mattila’s 2006 work shows that colonies...
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Queen Series: Randy & Eric Oliver on Selective Breeding and Varroa-Resistant Bees (384)
Beekeeping Today Podcast
In this episode of Beekeeping Today Podcast, Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman continue their queen-focused spring series with longtime beekeeper, researcher, and educator Randy Oliver and commercial beekeeper Eric Oliver. The conversation explores the realities of large-scale selective breeding for Varroa-resistant honey bees and the development of the Golden West queen line. Randy explains how his operation shifted toward breeding for mite resistance after discovering a colony in 2015 that consistently maintained zero Varroa counts without treatment. That colony became “Queen Zero,” launching...
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Winning at Honey: Choosing the Right Jars for Honey Shows
Beekeeping Today Podcast
In this installment of Winning at Honey with Stephanie Slater, Stephanie returns with seasonal reflections from Wisconsin and a practical deep dive into one of the most overlooked—but critical—elements of honey show success: selecting the right jars. As spring unfolds with unpredictable weather, Stephanie balances early-season beekeeping tasks like hiving nucs and making splits while also setting clear goals for the upcoming honey show season. Building on last year’s success with dipped tapers and lessons learned from pollen entries, she emphasizes the importance of planning...
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Queen Series: Honey Bee Queen Biology and Mating Behavior with Dr. Juliana Rangel (383)
Beekeeping Today Podcast
In this continuation of the Queen Series, Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman welcome Dr. Juliana Rangel of Texas A&M University for an in-depth discussion on honey bee queen biology, mating behavior, and the often-overlooked role of drones in colony success. Juliana shares her journey into honey bee research, beginning with stingless bees in Brazil and leading to her current work on queen reproductive biology. The conversation explores the complexity of queen mating, from orientation flights to drone congregation areas, and the many variables that influence successful mating—especially...
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Bonus Short - Secrets of the Bees with Sammy Ramsey
Beekeeping Today Podcast
In this Beekeeping Today Podcast Short, Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman sit down with Dr. Sammy Ramsey to explore his role in the National Geographic docuseries Secrets of the Bees. What began as a science communication opportunity quickly evolved into a multi-year collaboration blending research, storytelling, and cinematic production. Sammy shares how he contributed as a producer, helping shape the scientific direction of the series while ensuring that even experienced beekeepers would discover something new. The goal wasn’t just education—it was surprise. Even seasoned listeners may find...
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Queen Series: Queen Biology and Quality with Dr. David Tarpy (382)
Beekeeping Today Podcast
In this episode, Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman launch a new series focused on honey bee queens with leading researcher Dr. David Tarpy. From the start, the conversation challenges a common oversimplification: the queen is not just an “egg-laying machine,” but part of a dynamic, cooperative system shaped by both biology and worker perception. Tarpy explains that queen quality extends beyond visible traits like brood pattern. Instead, it includes physical characteristics such as body size, mating success, and sperm viability—factors that set the upper limit, or “ceiling,” of colony...
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Bee Swarmed with Mateo Kaiser (381)
Beekeeping Today Podcast
Mateo Kaiser joins Jeff and Becky to discuss how Bee Swarmed is changing the way beekeepers find and collect swarms. Built to connect the public with local beekeepers quickly, the platform helps remove the chaos that often surrounds swarm calls and replaces it with real-time alerts, cleaner communication, and better outcomes for both bees and beekeepers. The conversation begins with a timely Hive IQ question about swarm prevention and colony expansion. Jeff and Becky talk through the challenge of managing strong spring colonies, when to divide, and why waiting too long can cost both bees and...
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Bonus Short - 2026 Midwest Honey Bee Expo – Part 3
Beekeeping Today Podcast
Honey show judging and beekeeper education take center stage in this final installment from the 2026 Midwest Honey Bee Expo. In this Beekeeping Today Podcast Short, Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman bring together conversations from the show floor, featuring Stephanie Slater and members of the University of Minnesota bee lab. Stephanie shares what it takes to organize a successful honey show, from publishing rules months in advance to building categories that encourage broad participation. With entries nearly doubling from the previous year, the Midwest Honey Bee Expo honey show continues to grow,...
info_outlineHoney show judging and beekeeper education take center stage in this final installment from the 2026 Midwest Honey Bee Expo. In this Beekeeping Today Podcast Short, Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman bring together conversations from the show floor, featuring Stephanie Slater and members of the University of Minnesota bee lab.
Stephanie shares what it takes to organize a successful honey show, from publishing rules months in advance to building categories that encourage broad participation. With entries nearly doubling from the previous year, the Midwest Honey Bee Expo honey show continues to grow, reflecting strong interest in both presentation and flavor-based competition. The discussion includes preparation strategies for exhibitors and an inside look at the black jar category, where honey is judged solely on taste.
The episode also features conversations with Jessica Helgen and Isabell Dyrbye-Wright from the University of Minnesota bee lab. They discuss outreach efforts through the Bee Squad, beekeeper education, and the importance of making research-based resources accessible to beekeepers at all levels.
From honey judging to field-based education, this episode highlights the role of preparation, community, and applied science in modern beekeeping.
This episode concludes the three-part 2026 Midwest Honey Bee Expo series. Be sure to listen to Part 1 and Part 2 for additional conversations from the show floor.
This is Part 2 of a multi-episode series recorded at the 2026 Midwest Honey Bee Expo.
Featured Guests
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Stephanie Slater - American Honey Show Training Council, Honey Show Judge
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Jessica Helgen - University of Minnesota Bee Squad
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Isabell Dyrbey-Wright - University of Minnesota Bee Squad
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Betterbee is the presenting sponsor of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Betterbee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com
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Podcast music: Be Strong by Young Presidents; Epilogue by Musicalman; Faraday by BeGun; Walking in Paris by Studio Le Bus; A Fresh New Start by Pete Morse; Wedding Day by Boomer; Christmas Avenue by Immersive Music; Red Jack Blues by Daniel Hart; Bolero de la Fontero by Rimsky Music; Perfect Sky by Graceful Movement; Original guitar background instrumental by Jeff Ott.
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