Honey Bee Queen to Make Big Island Stop

In conclusion of the National Honey Month tour, the 2015 American Honey Queen, Gabrielle Hemesath, will make a stop on the Big Island in September.

During her stay, Hemesath will visit local schools and civic organizations, where she will discuss the importance of honeybees in everyday life, about the important connection honeybees have between plants and our plates, and information regarding the use of honey.

Hemesath is a sophomore at Iowa State University, where she is majoring in marketing. Now 19, Hemsath began her interest in beekeeping at a young age and has been employed by Fassbinder Apiaries since 2008, where she assists in managing 2,000 beehives.

In her role as the 2015 American Honey Queen, Hemesath will serve as the national spokesperson on behalf of the American Beekeeping Federation, the organization that represents beekeepers and honey producers throughout the United States.

Prior to her reign as American Honey Queen, Hemesath served as the 2014 Iowa Honey Queen, where she promoted the honey industry at fairs, festivals and farmers’ markets, in interviews, and in schools.

According to ABF, honey is responsible for nearly one-third of an American’s diet as a result of the pollinating services honeybees provide for a large portion of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes. Nearly $19 billion in direct value is seen by honeybee pollination in the United States each year.

Hemesath will be on the Big Island from Sept. 22-30.