Jerry said> FYI, the son of one of our migratory beekeepers, who has now taken both our Apprentice and Journeyman courses, told the Montana Beekeepers Association that he 'learned a lot' 

I was in that class, and at some point it occurred to me that UM,and others, may be helping define a paradigm for beekeeping that puts science and critical judgment at the center of the art. And maybe that begins to get at Christina's question. What is a master beekeeper? Are they ultimately defined by organizations like EAS, or is the extended community and technology offered by the university redefining the entry level and ultimately encouraging a different path. 

There was some discussion on the worthiness of the title and how it can be embodied by some and not needed, while others are "feathered" versions and add little to the title. I don't think the title means anything among merit based beekeepers, or scientists, but, unfortunately it means more than it should when it comes to meeting interested publics. 

I think the credibility of master beekeeper comes from participating in a larger community of informed beekeepers and not that somehow one is a functional master. UM and BEE-L have convinced me that there's just too much to know.  

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