Ramsey Conference Center 2535 Lanier Tech Dr, Gainesville, GA 30507

We welcome beekeepers to the GBA fall meeting! 

This conference is our 2nd annual hosting of the University of Georgia Bee Lab's Master Beekeeping Program testing and Honey Judge Training, which will take place on Thursday, September 19. The conference proper will start on Friday September 20 and Saturday September 21.

Our stellar guest speakers include Bob Binnie, Dr. Robyn Underwood, Dr. Lewis Bartlett, Greg Rogers and Dr. David Peck. They will cover topics both practical and research-oriented. Check out the full program here.

Expanding our knowledge with the help of nationally recognized speakers is a marvelous opportunity for us at GBA.  We are also fortunate to have a very strong lineup of breakout session speakers that will cover topics for beginners and seasoned beekeepers alike. On Friday's breakout sessions we are offering  special beeswax votive making workshops that require pre-registration and an additional materials fee. Click here to register for one of those sessions. We will once again host the best honey show in the country. The honey show rules can be found here.

For members who do bee removals, Dr. Bartlett's talk on Saturday will count as a continuing education credit for your license renewal.

The UGA Certified, Journeyman and Master Beekeeper testing will be on Thursday September 19 in Governor Deal’s Economic Development Bldg. next to the Ramsey Conference Center. The Honey Judge training begins on Thursday and continues on Friday. To participate in testing you must register to attend the GBA Fall Conference and select the testing level as an add-on. Read more about the UGA testing here.

The GBA Board of Directors meets at 4:30 PM on Thursday, September 19 in the Lyman Hall Breakout room of the Ramsey Conference Center

Conference programming begins on Friday September 20 at 9:00 AM.

Friday Evening's program, beginning at 5:30 PM, features a talk by Virginia Webb, the presentation of awards, and announcement of  the new Journeyman and Master Beekeepers. There is an additional fee for the dinner and pre-registration is required. 

On Saturday September 21, the day begins with the Club President’s Breakfast 7:45 AM, (only for current local club presidents). The conference begins with the GBA Annual Business Meeting at 9:00. The day closes at 5:00.

Fee Schedule:

In an effort to simplify the registration process we now prefer online payment. If you have not paid within 15 minutes of registering online, your registration will automatically cancel. Please have your payment information ready before registering for this event. 

• Early registration for the weekend  is $95 for members and $110 for nonmembers.
• On September 14, registration will be $125 for everyone.
• Friday night dinner, $25
• Early registration for one-day, Friday or Saturday registration fee is $65.
• On September 14, a one-day registration will be $90.

UGA Testing Program fees (include lunch on Thursday):

• Certified $65
• Journeyman $75
• Master $75
• Honey Judge $95

Hotel group rates are available at the following locations in Gainesville (click to make reservations):

HIlton Garden Inn Gainesville

Marriott TownePlace Gainesville

One of the features of the GBA Fall Conference is the fall honey show. To see the categories and rules for the honey show, click here. This year the honey show features combined categories from the traditional Fall Honey and Beeswax show as well as the Artisan show. The honey show is only open to current dues paid members of GBA who attend the conference. Please check your membership status before you arrive to expedite your honey show entries.

If you'd like to join us as a new member, click here. Once you have joined the organization, you can come back here and register for the conference at the member rate! As a nonmember registrant, you cannot enter the honey show, but if you join now, you can also enter the fall honey show.

If you are already a member and want to pay your dues for the next year as many of us like to do with the fall meeting registration, visit your member profile page when you have completed your registration and renew your membership. If you don't do that at this time, you will be sent a membership renewal reminder at the end of your membership year.

The officer election is held at the fall meeting. Members must have their dues paid up to date to vote in the election. If you are not sure when your dues should be paid, check on your personal profile page.

Refund policy: If you cancel by September 14, you may receive a refund of your registration fee. No refunds will be issued after September 14.