The SBGMI is currently comprised of 386 annual subscribed members spanning 6 countries with a majority residing in the Midwest of the United States. Our Facebook, Mailing list, and YouTube channels all have 1,000+ members/subscribers respectfully. Our board members are regionally located through the Southern Lower Peninsula of Michigan and Northern Ohio. We have an advisory board of advanced beekeepers and industry leaders/contributors who provide oversight, guidance, and assistance in organizational direction. Below you will find a macro-view of our timeline and growth since inception:
March 2022 The SBGMI hosts the first annual virtual winter conference with the intent to provide education to over 100 paid participants interested in selecting for host-resistance and reducing acaricide use in their beekeeping practices. Session recordings were made available to participants and SBGMI members for one full year and shared intermittently to the public for free before being made completely public in February 2023 via the SBGMI YouTube Channel.
May/June 2022 50 Virgin VSH Queens were imported from Cory Stevens in Bloomfield, MO. and Trevor Bawden in Milwaukee, WI. for the purpose and intent to build awareness and impact drone congregation areas with Varroa Sensitive Hygiene. These queens were raised from proven breeder queens that have been selected through the Harbo Assay and instrumentally inseminated to ensure dissemination of high degree VSH alleles.
January 2023 The SBGMI introduces virtual educational opportunities to participants for free with option to donate.
February 2023 The SBGMI hosts the second annual virtual winter conference with the intent to provide education to over 200 paid participants interested in scientific and research driven decision making with focus on sustainable beekeeping management practices over the course of a beekeeping season while remaining focused on selecting honeybees for host-resistance. Session recordings were made available to participants and SBGMI members and will for one full year be shared intermittently to the public for free before being made completely public in February 2024.
Spring 2023 120 Virgin VSH Queens were imported from Cory Stevens in Bloomfield, MO. for the purpose and intent to build awareness and impact drone congregation areas throughout Michigan with Varroa Sensitive Hygiene. These queens were raised from proven breeder queens that have been selected through the Harbo Assay and instrumentally inseminated to ensure dissemination of high degree VSH alleles.