On November 5, 2022, Stephanie Slater was honored as WHPA’s 2022 Beekeeper of the Year at the annual Fall Convention in Brookfield, WI. Stephanie became an active volunteer with WHPA almost immediately upon deciding to take up beekeeping several years ago. She is instrumental in the WHPA’s presence at the Wisconsin State Fair, serving on the WHPA State Fair Committee and Communications Committee. She’s helped expand the organization’s online presence on local, state and national levels. She is an active volunteer in the Walworth County Beekeeping Association, working diligently to highlight beekeeping and honey prominently at the Walworth County Fair. She has served as a two-term Director on WHPA’s Executive Committee and as a delegate to the American Beekeeping Federation. She has also led WHPA’s Youth Beekeeping Scholarship Program, a hands-on educational opportunity for youth to learn the art of beekeeping and the importance of honey bees over two years.
In addition to her service to the ABF, WHPA, and Walworth County Beekeepers, Stephanie has excelled in her own beekeeping ventures and has won numerous awards at the national, state and local level for her honey and honey products. She leads by example by continuing to educate herself both for her own beekeeping success and to pass on this information to others. Stephanie has been a champion for every program within WHPA and all beekeeping organizations in which she participates. Congratulations Stephanie!