Joe W. Taylor
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I became interested in beekeeping around 1985 while I was a woodworking teacher at Grayson County High School. I thought with the resources I had available to me I could make the bee hives at a lower cost than the local Walter T. Kelley Co. My first hive I purchased was a beginning hive with bees for around $100.00 but I learned that bees expand rapidly. I began making and buying equipment to keep up with my bees as they quickly expanded. While I make much of my own equipment, I still rely on the Walter T. Kelley Co. to supply my some of my needs and because the Walter T. Kelley Co. is so close, I don't have to pay shipping; a big cost for beekeepers.
After a few years, I began to have much more honey than my family needed so I began to sell the surplus to the community. Today, "Taylor Honey" is in great demand by the people of Grayson County because it is local honey...and the demand is greater than the supply. With the yearly expansion of the apiary the supply should increase just short of the demand. The honeybees support themselves by producing the honey that I sell to the public which I, in turn, purchase more supplies and/or hives.
In 2010 I served as the Kentucky State Beekeepers Association President and in 2011 was elected the 2011 Kentucky State Beekeeper of the Year. The honor allowed me to setup programs throughout the state of KY and talk to several beginning and existing, local beekeeping associations. In 1985, when I started beekeeping, there where less than ten beekeeping associations in KY. Today the state has over forty. I have personally provided assistance and given talks to seven of these active associations. I've met many beekeepers throughout KY; they're a great bunch.
Mr. Taylor has become known as the local "Go To" person when bees make their home in inconvenient places. The Grayson County News-Gazette interviewed him in early May, 2011 about his hobby. Read this article HERE.