Toe Cane Beekeepers Opens Enrollment for Three-Day Beekeeping School

The Toe Cane Beekeepers Association (TCBA) is now accepting registrations for its 2026 beekeeping school, scheduled for Feb. 6-8 at the NC Cooperative Extension office in Burnsville. The program is designed to take participants with an interest in beekeeping and turn them into full-fledged beekeepers with a state-level certification.

Led by a North Carolina State Beekeepers Association (NCSBA) Master Beekeeper, the school covers essential skills including hive setup, bee introduction, brood identification, hive inspections, splits, honey harvesting, and winter preparation.

“The one-day beekeeping basics class we hosted in prior years was so successful we are stepping it up to offer the North Carolina State Beekeeper Association curriculum so graduates can become certified beekeepers,” said Ann Concannon Coomber, TCBA president.  “Our new class is perfect for anyone interested in keeping bees for honey or pollination or curious about what happens inside a hive.”

Tuition for the course is $75 and includes:

• Annual memberships in both the TCBA and the NCSBA.
• The course textbook, First Lessons in Beekeeping by Keith A. Delaplane.
• Lunch on Saturday, Feb. 7.
• The written and practical certification exams.
• One year of follow-up mentoring and eligibility for hands-on training at the TCBA Educational Apiary at Mayland Community College.

Space is limited, and pre-registration is required. Interested participants can register online at https://toecanebeekeepers.net/school/.

The schedule includes a Friday evening session from 7 to 9 p.m., a full day on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and a final session and exam on Sunday starting at 1 p.m. All classes will be held at 30 E. US Hwy 19E, Burnsville, NC 28714.

The Toe Cane Beekeepers Association is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit promoting sustainable beekeeping practices in Mitchell, Avery, and Yancey counties. The association supports the beekeeping community by encouraging cooperation among local beekeepers and through hands-on training, mentoring, guest speakers, and classroom lectures. For more information, visit toecanebeekeepers.net.