The Essex County Beekeepers’ Association (ECBA) is a non-profit educational organization founded in 1923 by local beekeepers interested in sharing their experiences. In 1998, we celebrated the 75th Anniversary of the club and its association with the Topsfield Fair and received international recognition. We are known to have the largest honey show in North America.

All this is made possible by many dedicated members. Our membership consists of all levels of beekeepers, from beginners to experts, amatuers to professionals, children to adults, singles to families. But you don't have to be a beekeeper to join. Come to learn about honey and beeswax! Our strong point is our friendly relations based on active participation.

Meetings are held monthly. From November through March, meetings are held on the second Saturday of each month in the evenings, at the Beekeeping Building on Topsfield Fairgrounds in Topsfield Massachusets. In April we hold our annual banquet offsite. From May through September, meetings are held outdoors in the afternoon on the second Sunday of the month. These summer meetings are hosted by members at their homes.

Meetings are our chance to share information about beekeeping and its latest trends and developments. Guest speakers share their knowledge and experiences on all aspects of beekeeping, honey and wax. Dinners, door prizes, raffles and auctions are also included.

When you join the ECBA, you’ll receive our monthly newsletter, the Essex County Beeline. It’s filled with club news, articles, member anecdotes, recipes, upcoming events, and more. The Essex County Beekeepers’ Association is an educational organization that promotes apiculture (the study of beekeeping) by:

• Teaching a Practical Beekeeping course at the Topsfield Fairgrounds
• Sponsoring the Beekeeping Exhibit at the Topsfield Fair
• Giving presentations to schools and community groups

• Informative lectures on beekeeping, honey, candle making and other topics Access to expert beekeepers
• A place to share information about beekeeping
• Access to the ECBA Library, stocked with beekeeping related books, periodicals and video tapes for adults and children
• The opportunity to participate in the Topsfield Fair and sell your honey and wax products
• A club discount on American Bee Journal and Bee Culture magazines
• The opportunity to purchase honey candy, honeystix, beeswax, glassware, etc., at a reduced cost
• Attend bee school each year to refresh your knowledge

You can join the ECBA by downloading our Membership Application (You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader) and mailing it to the mailing address listed below.