The Community Leadership Award recognizes individuals who use their interest in and commitment to honey bees to benefit their communities. In addition to recognizing a partnership supporting pollinators and benefitting the community, new in 2017, the award recognized a young beekeeper under 18 who is supporting honey bee-focused initiatives in his or her school or community, such as researching ways to improve honey bee health, establishing an apiary on his or her school campus or amplifying existing beekeeping efforts.

2017 Winners Kirk and Heidi Tubbs

Kirk and Heidi Tubbs

The fifth annual Bayer Bee Care Community Leadership Award was awarded to Kirk and Heidi Tubbs of Tubbs Berry Farm in partnership with the Twin Falls County Pest Abatement District. Kirk and Heidi Tubbs began beekeeping 10 years ago due to pollination issues on their farm and have since become a local resource in Twin Falls, Idaho, for anything related to beekeeping. As a result of their esteemed reputation in the pollinator community, the opportunity to partner with Twin Falls County Pest Abatement District arose, with their first joint venture piloting tests to determine if a new mosquito control method had an effect on bees. As a result of their ongoing research on Integrated Pest Management, county employees have gained opportunities to expand their knowledge of bees and the products that are employed to reduce nearby mosquito populations. Additionally, Kirk instructs mosquito control operators at various conferences and workshops about how to have informed discussions with beekeepers on the impact various control methods have on bees.

“We’re honored to be recognized for our dedication to safe beekeeping and expanding local stewardship initiatives related to pollinator health,” said Kirk Tubbs of Tubbs Berry Farm. “With the funds we’ve been granted as a result of our award win, we’re eager to continue spearheading research on the effects of insect controllers on bees, while also exploring alternate methods of insect control and educating our communities about the importance of the extraordinary honey bee species.“

2017 Young Beekeeper Winner Jake Reisdorf

Jake Reisdorf

The first Young Beekeeper Community Leadership Award was awarded to Jake Residorf, founder and owner of the Carmel Honey Company. Jake is the first-ever beekeeper under 18 years of age to receive this award, which includes a $1,000 prize to support his school and community honey bee-focused initiatives. Among 20 entries, based on his standout application, 14-year-old Jake was selected for his diversified approach to pollinator health and commendable efforts to ensure that future generations understand the significant impact of bees on the ecosystem.

“It is so cool to receive the Bayer Bee Care Community Leadership Award for my efforts to educate the world about the honey bee,“ said Jake. “With the money I’ve been awarded, I’d like to fulfill my dream of building an educational center called Pollination World to teach people about all types of pollinators including bees, bats, birds and butterflies.“

Jake’s passion for bees originated after completing a beekeeping course with his father when he was in fifth grade, which served as the impetus behind a honey bee-themed website he designed for a school project. Stemming from the creation of this simple beekeeping website, his classmates began to look to him as a resource for bee health information. This inspired Jake to adopt a hive of his own.

Fast-forward to present day, Jake has nearly 100 hives throughout Monterey County, California. He sells pure, raw, premium honey and honeycombs to specialty food stores and restaurant chefs; places hives on residential and commercial properties for people who want to support the bees but don’t have the time or resources to be beekeepers; and gives educational presentations at schools and local organizations focusing on the importance of bees in the food chain. Jake is also a member of the California State Beekeepers Association, the American Beekeeping Federation and is currently participating in the UC Davis Master Beekeepers Program.