Veterans and Beekeeping Partner for A Better Future

Veterans are heroes, regardless of what capacity they serve. Those who serve our country have made immeasurable sacrifices, and it is always refreshing to find a program dedicated to providing a better future for these selfless, dedicated men and women who have given so much. The University of Minnesota has started a program for veterans to connect with others and learn about bees, their relevance, and how they can provide a better future and possible opportunities for veterans. Veterans, through the University of Minnesota Bee Lab, get their first hands-on experience working with bees and learning the intricacies of beekeeping.

University of Minnesota’s Bee Lab

The University of Minnesota’s Bee Lab aims to foster better bee breeding and grow knowledge and outreach about the importance of bees in pollination. It inspired the B Veterans Program, which seeks to connect veterans with the bee community and provide possible future employment opportunities for veterans.

The Bee Lab brings commercial beekeepers together with bee hobbyists in online communities, local connections, and large conferences focused on honey producers. These conferences include lots of honey tasting and a forum for sharing and encouraging others in their bee endeavors.

This incredible program provides bee equipment, such as veils and jackets, for those participating in gin workshops. Although some veterans have beekeeping experience, many newcomers are learning about this hobby, which is known for improving mental health and focus and possibly providing a sustainable income.

Why Spreading the News About Bees is Important

Many adults only realize the importance of bees later in life, but it is never too late to learn about our role in living and depending on these incredible insects. In addition to bees' honey production, their pollination efforts make many foods available year after year. Many items on the dining room table may be taken for granted, but without bees, your dinner plate would look bland and brown.

Semi-trucks transport bees in a pollination circuit, and this collective effort results in plentiful crops every year. Without sharing knowledge about bees and their critical roles, everyone loses. The gap in information between commercial and private beekeepers is narrowing, and programs like BEE Veterans are an excellent example of what is possible. An even better match of this program is the outreach to veterans, specifically those who want to have a plan for their futures.

Bees Are Pollination Heroes

The truth is that without pollination, food sources would dwindle, and there could potentially be food shortages unless continued awareness forums are available. Instead of only private beekeepers keeping bees, these opportunities open it up for many to help the process.

Many beekeepers think of bees as heroes, whether because of the purpose their care has given an individual, the delicious honey they can extract, or simply because they are part of something bigger than oneself.

A Collaboration of Heroes

Although neither veterans nor bees wear capes, they are both, in their own right, heroes who give selflessly for the greater good. Veterans who serve our nation are hands-down the most selfless and often an underserved community of individuals. As Bee Lab intentionally outreaches to veterans, this collaboration is an effort that will pave the way for others.

The beekeeping community is close-knit and full of incredibly knowledgeable and experienced people who want to share their journeys and help others in theirs. You would be hard-pressed to find a more grounded group of individuals with the same interest—helping the bees and taking good care of them.