At the annual banquet on December 2, Louis Antonioni of Burnett was honored as Beekeeper of the Year by the Dodge-Jefferson County Beekeepers Association. Antonioni started the club’s Youth in Beekeeping program, now in its fourth year, and organizes honey extraction events for club members. Louis served as an officer in the club as a president and vice president. He also chairs the Youth in Beekeeping committee, serves as a mentor to club youth beekeepers, and maintains the club’s extracting equipment. He is respected by his peers as a beekeeper who is willing to help, mentor, and share his knowledge.
Holley Schwartz of Watertown earned her achievement certificate as she successfully completed a year in the club’s Youth in Beekeeping program. She thanked the club for the opportunity to learn about the many aspects of beekeeping and looks forward to continue her adventures with bees and honey . Shane Lapen of Beaver Dam also achieved completion of the Youth in Beekeeping program.
The club also elected a new slate of officers to lead the club in 2018. Steve Drajeske of Neosho was elected president, Roxanne Haberkorn of Beaver Dam as vice president, Karen Wandersee of Ixonia as treasurer, and Louann Bogenschneider of Horicon as secretary. Outgoing officers Tracy Malterer of Iron Ridge, Mel Saeger of Juneau, and Melanie Williams of Waupun were thanked for their years of service to the club.
