2007 Beekeeper of the Year
Georgia Beekeepers Association
Martha Kiefer (right) receiving the 2007 Georgia Beekeeper of the Year Award from Cindy Bee, the 2006 Georgia Beekeeper of the Year.
Martha received the 2007 Georgia Beekeeper of the Year Award in recognition of her work with the Metro Atlanta Beekeepers Association, one of the oldest beekeeper groups in Georgia. Since 2002, she and her husband have been hobbyist beekeepers in Atlanta and maintain four beehives.
Martha served as Secretary of Tara Beekeepers Association, and has been President of Metro Atlanta Beekeepers Association since the spring of 2005.
She has won awards for honey, mead, and other bee-related exhibits at local, state, and regional competitions. In 2006 she was awarded "Best In Show" at the Eastern Apicultural Society honey show at their annual meeting at Young Harris College.
2006 Beekeeper of the Year
Georgia Beekeepers Association
Cindy Bee (left) receiving the 2006 Georgia Beekeeper of the Year award from Jennifer Berry, the 2005 Georgia Beekeeper of the Year.
Cindy Bee has been involved with honey bees in numerous ways for many years. Her first beekeeping adventure happened quite accidentally when she was eleven years old. Her father had to leave town on an emergency business trip, forgetting about the package of honey bees he had ordered. The bees arrived and Cindy's mother, who hate bees, answered the door. Needless to say, she was not very happy. Cindy decided it was her job not only to save the bees, but her dad as well. When her father retired, he gave his honey bees and equipment to Cindy.
Cindy has owned and operated Bee's Honeybee Removal Company for over ten years. She also runs DillonBee Apiaries which is based in Marietta, Georgia.
Cindy is a teacher in the Cobb County Public School system, and is currently studying for a Masters Degree in Professional Writing. She is a Georgia Master Beekeeper; past President, Vice President, and Secretary of Metro Atlanta Beekeepers Association; and currently a member of the Boards of both the Georgia Beekeepers Association and Metro Atlanta Beekeepers Association. Cindy also holds an advanced level in the Georgia Master Beekeepers Certification program.
Cindy received a special award for her outstanding dedication to beekeeping in the State of Georgia.
Cindy is a volunteer worker and educator in the beekeeping community as well as with the general public. She has mentored untold numbers of beekeepers; talked about honey bees to clubs, schools, and other organizations; and given interviews about honey bees to newspapers, and radio and television programs. Cindy was the Volunteer Coordinator for the 2006 Eastern Apiculture Society meeting that was held at Young Harris College.