Veterans’ beekeeping program topic of upcoming Dessert with Discussion talk

Adam Ingrao

This event has been rescheduled for 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, in the KBS Auditorium.

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What do honeybees and U.S. military veterans have in common? More than you might think.

The W.K. Kellogg Biological Station will welcome Dr. Adam Ingrao, agricultural entomologist and Michigan State University Extension’s veterans’ liaison, at the next Dessert with Discussion event, set for 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, March 26, in the KBS Auditorium (Room 312 in the Academic Building). Dessert with Discussion is a free lecture series that aims to connect the KBS and MSU research community with our local community.

Dr. Ingrao will talk about the MSUE Heroes to Hives program, which seeks to address the financial and personal wellness of veterans through professional training and community development centered on beekeeping.

In his talk, Dr. Ingrao will discuss:

• The current status of the US beekeeping industry.
• Efforts to address honey bee decline.
• The historical relationship between veterans and beekeeping.
• How Heroes to Hives trains veterans to become beekeepers, supports veterans’ health, and how program alumni are training the next generation of beekeepers.

Doors open at 7 p.m., with a cash bar featuring house wines and Michigan craft beer available. The talk will begin at 7:30 p.m. There is no admission fee, but online registration is appreciated. A live steam also will be offered for those who cannot attend in person. Direct questions to communityrelations@kbs.msu.edu or (269) 671-2015.

Dessert with Discussion will continue in May, when Cornell Lab of Ornithology Director John Fitzpatrick will give a talk, titled “Birds Can Save the World.”

About Adam Ingrao

An Army veteran and nationally recognized veteran’s advocate, Dr. Ingrao has led efforts to connect veterans with career and wellness opportunities within the agricultural sector. He is the founder of the Heroes to Hives program, and the former director of two nonprofits serving farmer veterans in Michigan—the Veterans in Agriculture Network and the Farmer Veteran Coalition of Michigan. He holds a B.S. in agriculture and environmental plant science from California Polytechnic State University and a Ph.D. in entomology from Michigan State University.

About Heroes to Hives

The Heroes to Hives program is a one-of-a-kind initiative that offers training in keeping hives of honeybees (Apis mellifera) while also creating a sense of community and camaraderie that many veterans lose after leaving active duty. Since 2016, 408 military veterans and their spouses have received training through the program. Heroes to Hives instructional apiaries are housed at the W.K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary and in Escanaba, Newberry, Canton, Lake City and Lansing, Michigan.