[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 5 (Thursday, January 8, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E18]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    CELEBRATING 150 YEARS OF THE LANCASTER COUNTY BEEKEEPERS SOCIETY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. LLOYD SMUCKER

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 8, 2026

  Mr. SMUCKER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to congratulate and recognize 
the Lancaster County Beekeepers Society on their 150th anniversary.
  The Lancaster County Beekeepers Society first met on March 13, 1876, 
in the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Founded by beekeepers with 
Lancastrian surnames like Reist, Hershey, and Herr, the first subject 
discussed was ``Will bee-keeping pay?'' The Lancaster County Beekeepers 
Society has continued to meet in the following 150 years, making it the 
oldest continuously operating, non-profit, honeybee club in the United 
States.
  Throughout their long history, the Lancaster County Beekeepers 
Society has provided an opportunity for beekeepers to share their 
insights with one another and promote bee-related products. The club 
also provides public awareness about honeybees and their importance 
through lectures, exhibits, and programs like their annual New 
Beekeeper Workshop. The workshop has trained over 1,000 new beekeepers 
since its inception in 2010. These initiatives have benefited schools, 
churches, clubs, farm shows, and fairs across the county and state.
  Honeybees are a vital part of our ecosystem. As the Lancaster County 
Beekeepers Society celebrates a monumental 150 years, their service to 
the community deserves to ``bee'' commended. I thank the club for what 
they do, and I wish them another 150 years of continued success.

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