Beekeeper of the Year

Eligibility and criteria:

• Must be a VBA member
• May only receive this recognition one time (see list of previous recipients linked above.)
• Efforts positively impact some aspect of apiculture statewide – beekeeper or public education, honey marketing, reduction of adverse environmental impacts on honey bees, research, etc.
• The significant effort can be during a recent year or multiple recent years.
• Would include a person or people who are the primary organizers and implementers of a program for several years.
• Can be given to a person of any age including youths.
• Involved in a wide range of activities – demonstrating, showing, doing, teaching, promoting.

Friend of the Bees

Eligibility and criteria:

• Anyone: business, individual, agency, institution, researchers, municipalities, etc.
• Not limited to VBA members.
• Outstanding efforts in support of Vermont bees or beekeepers.

Outstanding efforts on honeybee education

Eligibility and criteria:

• For beekeepers and non-beekeepers
• Not limited to VBA members.
• Frequently conducts or assists on classes, workshops, public events (fairs, festivals, etc.)

Includes Outstanding efforts by a Mentor and Mentee pair:

• Any VBA Mentor/Mentee pair
• How were they successful?
• How did they make it work?

Mission superhero

Eligibility and criteria:

• Any VBA member
• Outstanding initiative or leadership on a specific project or set of projects that contribute(s) to the VBA mission.
• Can be given to a person of any age including youths.