What is the Virginia State Beekeepers Association (VSBA)?

The Virginia State Beekeepers Association (VSBA) is a statewide beekeeping organization founded in 1918, making it one of the oldest state beekeeping organizations in the United States. Its stated purpose is to support and educate beekeepers, promote apiculture, and advocate for the health and sustainability of honey bees in Virginia. If you keep bees in Virginia, are considering starting, or want to connect with other beekeepers in the state, this is the organization to look at first.

What the VSBA does

Based on the organization's own description, its work centers on three things:

• Supporting and educating beekeepers — providing information and resources to people who keep bees, from beginners to experienced hobbyists and sideliners.
• Promoting apiculture — encouraging beekeeping as a practice in Virginia.
• Advocating for honey bee health and sustainability — representing beekeeping interests and bee health within the state.

The "oldest state organizations" framing matters practically: an organization founded in 1918 has had more than a century to build institutional knowledge, relationships with state agencies, and a network of local clubs across Virginia.

What you can find on the site

The homepage surfaces several recurring entry points:

There are also pricing-related pages linked from the site — a Members Portal and a Plans & Pricing page — which indicates membership is tiered or paid. The specific costs, tiers, and what each includes are not stated in the material available here, so check those pages directly before assuming a price or what a given level covers.

Who this is for

• New beekeepers in Virginia who want structured guidance, exam registration, and contact with experienced keepers.
• Existing beekeepers looking for a statewide network, news, and events like the honey show.
• Anyone interested in bee health policy in Virginia who wants to follow or support advocacy work.

If you are outside Virginia, the organization's focus is state-specific, though its educational material and honey show rules may still be useful references.

Practical next steps

1. Open the Join Us link to see membership options.
2. Check Plans & Pricing for current dues and what each tier includes — this is the only reliable source for cost.
3. If you plan to enter the honey show or sit for exams, review Honey Show Rules and Register for Exams early, since these typically have deadlines.
4. Use Latest VSBA News to see what the association is currently working on before committing.

The main thing to verify yourself is membership cost and benefits, since the available description confirms that pricing pages exist but does not state the amounts.