SCBA Beekeeper of the Year

2010 St. Clair Beekeeper of the Year !

Each year, the Board of Directors of the St. Clair Beekeepers Association searches for and selects one of this organization's members as the SCBA Beekeeper of the Year. This individual has worked hard to promote beekeeping, and exemplifies what we as apiarists should strive each year to achieve. This award is presented during our Annual Holiday meeting in November, and serves to recognize the extraordinary efforts of a truly dedicated beekeeper.

At this year's Annual Holiday Meeting in November, *Mike Sabo* of Prairie du Rocher was presented with the *2010 St. Clair Beekeeper of the Year Award* by President Ken Schaefer. Mike was selected as this year's recipient of St. Clair Beekeepers Association's " Beekeeper of the Year " award in recognition of his efforts over the past year to represent the beekeepers of Illinois in an effort to have honey defined by the Illinois legislature as a Raw Agricultural Commodity. Mike served as chairman of the ISBA committee assigned with the task of drafting a resolution seeking relief from excessive IDPH honey processing regulations. Mike worked hard this year with Senator David Luechtefeld and Representative Dan Reitz and the ISBA committee to promote and draft the bill aimed at providing this relief to small beekeepers in Illinois. Mike testified on our behalf before the Illinois Senate and House Agriculture committees to explain to Illinois legislators our need for help with this matter. Mike spent many hours calling and meeting with members of the Illinois legislature and seeking their support of legislation to produce and sell small quantities of honey produced in Illinois. In the end, the legislature overwhelmingly agreed, and approved SB2959. It was signed by Governor Pat Quinn in July, becoming law on January 1, 2011. Please join us in congratulating Mike on a job well done, and thank him for all the efforts he makes to promote beekeeping and this organization. Mike, along with his daughter, Astrid, care for their bees near their home in Prairie du Rocher, Illinois.
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At this year's Annual Holiday Meeting in November,

Mike Sabo

of Prairie du Rocher was presented with the

2010 St. Clair Beekeeper of the Year Award

by President Ken Schaefer.

Mike was selected as this year's recipient of St. Clair Beekeepers Association's

" Beekeeper of the Year " award in recognition of his efforts over the past year to represent the beekeepers of Illinois in an effort to have honey defined by the Illinois legislature as a Raw Agricultural Commodity.

Mike served as chairman of the ISBA committee assigned with the task of drafting a resolution seeking relief from excessive IDPH honey processing regulations.
Mike worked hard this year with Senator David Luechtefeld and Representative Dan Reitz and the ISBA committee to promote and draft the bill aimed at providing this relief to small beekeepers in Illinois.
Mike testified on our behalf before the Illinois Senate and House Agriculture committees to explain to Illinois legislators our need for help with this matter.
Mike spent many hours calling and meeting with members of the Illinois legislature and seeking their support of legislation to produce and sell small quantities of honey produced in Illinois.
In the end, the legislature overwhelmingly agreed, and approved SB2959. It was signed by Governor Pat Quinn in July, becoming law on January 1, 2011.

Please join us in congratulating Mike on a job well done, and thank him for all the efforts he makes to promote beekeeping and this organization.

Mike, along with his daughter, Astrid, care for their bees near their home in Prairie du Rocher, Illinois.

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