Congratulations Dr. Thomas Webster, recipient of the KSBA Lifetime Achievement Award!

At the 2025 KSBA Annual Conference, Dr. Thomas Webster was recognized with a lifetime achievement award for his 50 years of outstanding contribution to Kentucky and worldwide beekeeping.

Nomination Letter for Dr. Thomas Webster

For almost 50 years, Dr. Thomas Webster has devoted his personal and professional life to supporting beekeepers in Kentucky and beyond. His tireless work to improve the technical, practical, and academic aspects of apiculture has made a lasting impact on thousands of beekeepers across the country. Dr Webster has published many papers, articles, and chapters for research documents and has over 800 listed citations, showing his far-reaching influence on fellow researchers in apiculture. As a Professor of Entomology in the college of Agriculture at Kentucky State University since 1988, Dr. Webster has always prioritized teaching and research projects that have had a profound impact on generations of future entomologists and beekeepers as well.  

In 2002, Tom was instrumental in organizing one of the first large-scale Beekeeping Schools in the State, the Bluegrass Beekeeping School (now in conjunction with Capitol City Beekeepers), which remains one of the largest and most comprehensive annual educational beekeeping events in Kentucky. He insured its continual growth by arranging for it to be hosted on the campus of KSU over 20 years ago, where it remains today.  

Working with colleagues from Purdue and Michigan State, Tom was instrumental in establishing the Heartland Apiculture Society in 2001, where he was at the forefront of bringing practical education and a large-scale technical conference for beginning and advanced beekeepers to the Midwest.

By facilitating these schools and conferences, among many more, Tom has promoted networks and support structures that have helped the extended beekeeping industry gain a foothold we desperately needed but never had. His willingness to answer questions, speak and teach hands-on classes at events, and even welcome regular beekeepers into his labs throughout the years has helped all of us become better beekeepers. Through decades of teaching, research, and fieldwork, Dr. Webster has become a trusted voice in the beekeeping community and a passionate advocate for pollinator health.

Kentucky is fortunate to have had Tom in our midst for so long and it is the privilege of the Kentucky State Beekeepers Association to present the Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr. Thomas Webster.

Joe Taylor presents Dr. Thomas Webster with the KSBA Lifetime Achievement Award.

Congratulations R. Scott Moore and Jake Barker, the 2025 Beekeepers of the Year!

Each year, KSBA recognizes one of its members as Beekeeper of the Year. This award recognizes those who have made outstanding contributions to Kentucky beekeeping, not just locally but statewide. The recipient is announced at the KSBA Fall General Meeting.

Nomination Letter for R. Scott Moore

The Kentucky Beekeeper of the Year award recognizes an individual who makes “outstanding contributions to beekeeping, not only locally but also statewide.”  The Beekeeper of the Year is expected to make positive impacts that reach beyond what benefits themselves personally or even their local club. The work performed must be done with quality and benefit Kentucky beekeepers far and wide.

For five years, Scott Moore has done just that in his role as KSBA Certified Kentucky Honey Producers (CKHP) program manager. In addition to his official position, he has contributed to impactful work by volunteering far outside the scope of his role with CKHP. And he’s done it all with excellence, enthusiasm, a relentless focus on quality and doing what is best for Kentucky beekeepers.

For the Certified Kentucky Honey Producers, by Scott’s own initiative to improve the program offering and affordability, and without designated incentives, he grew the program from 17 active members in January 2021 to over 325 current active members. He has personally ensured every one of these 325 CKHP members are in compliance by confirming that their hives are exclusively in Kentucky and they are producing Kentucky honey. This is often difficult, requiring an apiary visit and back and forth communication with local clubs.

In addition, he supports CKHP members and beekeepers across the state by developing and presenting educational materials to expand their markets and beekeeping operations, including visits to over 20 events, local clubs, and schools last year. This includes facilitating partnerships with agricultural industries and non-traditional retail establishments as well as sharing information on creative and profitable uses for their hive products.

Scott’s contributions reach far beyond CKHP responsibilities. He has been the primary coordinator of the Kentucky State Fair for five years, which has brought over $300,000 to Kentucky beekeepers and KSBA. Scott designed robust procedures to ensure every producer’s honey is checked in, every product sold accounted for, and every producer paid their precise and correct amount. He coordinates with the State Apiarist for the Bees and Honey Room as well as the South Wing Agriculture team for that display and works with the State Fair Board to make sure every detail of this 2 week-long event is done on time and represents beekeeping on a grand level. Scott has created a lasting legacy of quality processes that future State Fair Coordinators can rely upon for years to come.

When not doing CKHP and State Fair work, Scott contributes to many additional broader efforts benefiting Kentucky beekeepers and agriculture. For example, Scott was the key driver for passing House Bill 391 in the 2025 state legislative session that increased the limit requiring a honey house from 150 gallons to 500 gallons. Over the years, Scott purposefully and with intent nurtured relationships with Kentucky Department of Agriculture and Kentucky State Legislators through his positions with KSBA as well as his leadership on the board of the Jefferson County Farm Bureau. Scott’s relationships and trusted expertise got this legislation passed. His tenacity and sheer willpower to make this a reality are what propelled this legislation across the finish line. His work will continue to benefit beekeepers as the next steps for deregulation come through.

Scott also travels all over the state of Kentucky, representing KSBA and CKHP through education, marketing, and outreach to beekeepers and non-beekeepers alike.  He nurtured relationships with clubs that felt they were long forgotten by KSBA. Scott did not forget them. In fact, he drove across the state, mostly on volunteer time, so they knew they were not forgotten. It is in large part because of Scott that the KSBA reputation has categorically improved statewide.

Finally, Scott willingly sits on all manner of KSBA committees without obligation or hesitation. But he doesn’t just attend. He does actual work. He is never a “butt in a seat.” For example, Scott volunteered to be on the KSBA Fall Conference planning committee and was the one who cut through to finding the venue for this 2025 conference, again, due to the strength of the relationships he built for many years with area clubs and beekeepers. And although he prefers to be out of the limelight, when asked to be the conference Master of Ceremonies, he enthusiastically said “Yes” yet again.

Scott is a special blend of quality, hard-work, forward thinking, diligence, expertise, commitment, and partnership. KSBA, CKHP, and – importantly - Kentucky beekeepers are so much better off because of Scott’s five years of dedication and ‘above and beyond’ contributions.

Nomination Letter for Jake Barker

Jake Barker is a member of the Oldham County Beekeepers Association. He is also a EAS and Cornell Master Beekeeper. He worked closely with KCARD to draft bylaws and incorporated OCBA into it’s own 501c(3). He was one of the founders of the Apis Rescue Swarm Team and co-organized the Louisville Beekeeping and Research Conference.

Jake played a key role in getting the House Bill 361 through the KY State Legislature this year. The Bill changed the requirement for certified commercial kitchens in honey houses from 150 gallons to 500 gallons.

Jake has been tireless in his efforts to disseminate beekeeping knowledge with his frequent contributions and discussions on social media. He also has a regular monthly column in the KSBA newsletter. Jake extends his availability as a speaker on a regular basis to bee schools to bee clubs and bee conferences across the state.

Nominations for the 2026 Beekeeper of the Year will open on August 1, 2026 and close September 30, 2026. The location to send nominations will be announced later in 2026. Anyone can make a nomination. To make a nomination, connect with an officer of your local bee club. Write your nomination and in your own words, explain why the person you are nominating should be selected as KSBA Beekeeper of the Year. Next, your club officer will email the nomination. Each year in the fall, nominations are reviewed and voted upon by a panel of the past Beekeeper of the Year award winners. Watch the Beelines newsletter and news for information regarding Beekeeper of the Year nominations

2025 KSBA Beekeepers of the Year R. Scott Moore

2025 KSBA Beekeeper of the Year Jake Barker

R. Scott Moore congratulates Jake Barker.