Continuing the thread about the aging population of beekeepers.
Yes, most are over 50.  I don't put an exclamation point, however,
I see this as the norm and nothing much to get excited about.  I
don't believe that the population is running out of youth and
beekeeping will fade away.  The reason is that many more young
people are becoming 50 to replace the other oldsters in the craft.
We are seeing new people becoming interested and yes, many are that
age.  They now have the time, energy and financial resources
(luxury?) to work with bees.  Younger people are too strapped for
time and money.  The rage in the U.S. now is all about the aging
population and what these people are going to do.  Maybe our
efforts over the years is about to be rewarded.  All those grade-
school kids we did bee demonstrations for over the years might
become a bumper crop of baby boomer beekeepers.
 
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Malcolm (Tom) Sanford   Extension Apiculturist   University of Florida
Mailing Address:  Bldg 970, Hull Rd., Gainesville, FL 32611-0620
Voice phone  904/392-1801, Ext. 143
FAX  904/392-0190
INTERNET:[log in to unmask]
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Publisher of APIS -- http://gnv.ifas.ufl.edu/~entweb/apis/apis.htm
Instructor of Principles of Entomology, ENY 3005--
http://gnv.ifas.ufl.edu/~mts/eny3005/eny3005syl.htm
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