Awards Nominations

Regional Achievement Nominations

Help us celebrate exceptional beekeepers whose leadership, dedication, and unwavering passion for bees have strengthened our community. At the annual conference, OSBA will recognize one beekeeper for each award: the Regional Apprentice Award and the Regional Journeyman Award in each region throughout Ohio. The selected winners in each category will be voted on by each regional director, representative, and previous year’s winner. *Maumee Valley  *Erie Basin  *Western Reserve  *Top of Ohio  *Heart of Ohio  *Crossroads  *Miami Valley  *Ohio Valley  *Buckeye Hills

The awards currently available are:

  • Regional Apprentice Award – Awarded in recognition of an individual who has (5) five years or less of beekeeping experience. Through diligence and dedication, this person has acquired the necessary skills to be a conscientious steward of the apiary. The individual is an active participant in their beekeeping club by contributing to its well–being, and an advocate for beekeeping in promoting it.
  • Regional Journeyman Award – Awarded to an individual who has (5) five years or more of experience in beekeeping. This person has made outstanding contributions to the beekeeping community and provided meritorious service to their beekeeping community. Through dedicated efforts and mentorship, they have promoted bee welfare, strengthened cooperation and collaboration among beekeepers and regional clubs, and inspired greater public awareness about pollinators and encouraged involvement in beekeeping.

Awards Information: Submission Deadline Saturday, September 27, 2026  

Regional Achievement Award Download ↓

Please return all completed forms to communication-officer@ohiostatebeekeepers.org

 

State Award Nominations

The OSBA Awards Committee will accept candidate applications through OSBA membership. Members who would like to nominate an individual for an award are asked to write a letter of recommendation about the nominee, a biography, and the award for which they would like to nominate the individual. The selected winners in each category will be voted on by the previous year’s winner. Currently available are: Beekeeper of the Year, Propolis Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, and Hall of Fame.

The awards currently available are:

  • Beekeeper of the Year –“Awarded to an Ohio individual who promotes beekeeping within the community and encourages collaboration and cooperation among other beekeepers, clubs, and organizations.”
  • Propolis Award –“Awarded to an Ohio individual who goes above and beyond expectations in bringing and holding together the beekeeping community.”
  • Lifetime Achievement Award: “Awarded to an Ohio individual with 25 years of experience who has exhibited lifetime achievements that have had a positive effect on the entire beekeeping community.”
  • Hall of Fame – “Awarded to an Ohio individual with 25 years of experience for substantial achievements and contributions to the beekeeping world in their lifetime. This award will be awarded posthumously.“
  • Referral Letter – “Supporting referral letters that are needed to support the nominee.“

Questions that nominees should fulfill:

  1. What activities has this person been involved with that qualify him/her for the nomination?
  2. What positive outcomes for the Ohio beekeeping community have resulted from this person’s actions?
  3. How does this person set an example for the beekeeping community?
  4. Please attach only (3) three letters of recommendation.

Awards Information: Submission Deadline Saturday, September 27, 2026  

Propolis Award Download ↓
Beekeeper of the Year Download ↓
Lifetime Achievement Award Download ↓
Hall of Fame Download ↓
Referral Letter Download ↓

Please return all completed forms to communication-officer@ohiostatebeekeepers.org