Bringing Bees to Tarleton: A Vision Turning Into Reality
What started as just an idea is quickly becoming a reality! Over the past several months, I have been working on a proposal to establish beehives at Tarleton State University. The goal is to create a sustainable, educational, and research-focused beekeeping initiative that benefits students, faculty, and the environment. After countless hours of planning, research, and networking, I am thrilled to share some major progress—this project now has the full support of the university, faculty, and even honeybee specialists from Texas A&M!
A Breakthrough Meeting with Dr. Lambert & Dr. Mitchell
This morning marked a major milestone in this journey. I met with Dr. Lambert, a key faculty member at Tarleton, to discuss my proposal for establishing beehives on university property. He was completely on board with the idea and eager to see it move forward. Not only did he express his full support, but he also took action immediately by introducing me to Dr. Mitchell, an entomologist and professor at Tarleton.
Meeting with Dr. Mitchell was a game-changer. As an entomologist, he understands the importance of pollinators and their role in agriculture and environmental sustainability. After reviewing my proposal, he gave me his full backing, recognizing the value that a beekeeping program would bring to Tarleton. Even better, we wasted no time in planning the next steps—we scheduled a meeting for Friday, February 14, at the Tarleton University Farm to determine the best location for the hives.
This is a crucial step, as selecting the right location is essential for the health and productivity of the bees. Factors like sunlight exposure, wind protection, access to water, and distance from high-traffic areas all need to be considered. Having faculty members actively involved in this process makes the project even more promising.
Support from the TAMU Honeybee Specialist
Another major milestone in this journey was getting the support of the Texas A&M University Honeybee Specialist. Early on, Mr. McGraw recommended that I reach out to him for guidance, and I took his advice. After speaking with the TAMU Honeybee Specialist about my proposal, I was met with nothing but encouragement. He fully supports the initiative and is willing to provide insight and expertise to ensure that the project is executed properly.
Having the backing of both Tarleton’s faculty and Texas A&M’s honeybee experts is huge. It not only solidifies the credibility of this project but also opens up opportunities for collaboration, research, and potential expansion in the future.
Why This Project Matters
This initiative isn’t just about placing beehives on campus—it’s about education, sustainability, and pollinator conservation. Honeybees play a critical role in our ecosystem, and establishing a beekeeping program at Tarleton will provide multiple benefits:
🔬 Educational Opportunities: Students studying agriculture, environmental science, and biology will have hands-on learning experiences with honeybee management, pollination research, and hive maintenance.
🌿 Pollination & Sustainability: Beehives will support local plant and crop pollination efforts, enhancing biodiversity on campus and surrounding areas.
🍯 Research & Innovation: This project could lead to research on honeybee behavior, hive health, and even honey production, contributing valuable data to the scientific community.
🐝 Community Engagement: This initiative has the potential to involve students, faculty, and even local beekeepers, fostering a stronger appreciation for pollinators and their role in agriculture.
What’s Next?
With the full backing of Tarleton’s faculty and external support from Texas A&M, things are moving quickly. Here’s what’s coming up next:
✅ February 14 Meeting: I’ll be meeting with Dr. Mitchell at the University Farm to determine the best placement for the hives. This will be a major step in making the project a physical reality.
✅ Finalizing Logistics: Once we have a location, the next step will be securing the necessary equipment, setting up the hives, and planning a management strategy to keep them healthy.
✅ Building Student Involvement: In the long run, I’d love to see students get directly involved, whether through research, internships, or simply learning about honeybees and their impact.
✅ Seeking Additional Support: While we have faculty support, I’m also looking at potential funding options, sponsorships, and partnerships that could help sustain this initiative long-term.
This project is quickly evolving, and I couldn’t be more excited to see it come together. What once seemed like a far-off dream is now becoming a tangible, impactful reality at Tarleton State University. Stay tuned for more updates—I’ll continue to share progress as we move forward, and I can’t wait to see these hives thriving on campus soon!
🐝💜 Texans Supporting Pollinators! 💜🐝