CITIZEN STAFF REPORT

INEZ — Martin County residents interested in beekeeping will have a chance to build their own swarm traps as the Martin County Cooperative Extension Service teams up with the Martin County Beekeepers Association for a hands-on workshop in Inez.

The “Swarm Trap Building” program is on the schedule for Friday, April 24, at 5 p.m. at the extension office at 9 Holy Street.

Organizers say the event is for anyone looking to get started in beekeeping this year, including beginners who want to learn how to attract and safely capture swarms during the spring season.

According to an announcement from the extension office, participants will receive assistance building their own swarm traps during the program.

The cost is $20 per swarm trap, and organizers emphasized that the workshop is registration only.

In a Facebook post promoting the event, the Martin County Cooperative Extension Service invited residents to take part in the program, asking, “Ready to get your apiary started for the year? Want to learn to catch your own bees?”

The post said the extension office and the Martin County Beekeepers Association will host the program “to assist you with building your very own swarm traps.”

Beekeepers commonly use swarm traps in spring and early summer to attract honeybee swarms searching for a new home. For new beekeepers, the traps can offer a lower-cost way to begin building a hive while also helping capture local swarms that might otherwise settle in unwanted places.

Organizers are encouraging residents to register in advance using the QR code on the event flyer, the online registration link uky.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3pAmEsgSedIXcj4 or by calling the extension office at 606-298-7742.

The University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service is offering the event as part of its agriculture and natural resources programming in Martin County.