Parker County Today June 2016 | Page 91

ag kids: GARRETT POWELL Beekeeping for Fun and Profit BY MELISSA MOORMAN PA R K E R C O U N T Y T O D AY can be produced in a single hive, he’s a veritable fount of information on how to care for his buzzing little friends. Garrett started beekeeping when he received a scholarship from the Metro Beekeepers Association (MBA). The group has been granting scholarships since 2011 to encourage kids to get involved in beekeeping. He went through a multi-part interview process and received his scholarship earlier this year. His scholarship includes a one year membership in the MBA, beekeeping course and book, wooden-ware for a beehive, a package of bees for JUNE 2016 “It’s a hobby and a business,” says 12-year-old beekeeper Garrett Powell. He’s raising bees for fun and profit on his family’s five acre property in Parker County. Although he’s new to beekeeping having started his hives about a month ago, but according to his mother Jana, “He’s very invested in it, he reads his books and visits his hives regularly.” Just speaking with him for a few minutes, it’s obvious he is very knowledgeable about how the different types of bees live and work inside the hive, how to divide hives, the different ways to feed the bees and how much honey 89