Jess Curtis has had a passion for bees since she was five years old. Photo / Supplied
Jess Curtis has had a passion for bees since she was five years old. Photo / Supplied
Inspired by her beekeeping granddad but once afraid of bees, Jess Curtis is on her way to a life surrounded by them.
The 18-year-old Cardrona Valley apprentice beekeeper has won this year's Apiculture New Zealand (ApiNZ) Ron Mossop Youth Scholarship.
Curtis has been working part time for Taylor Pass Honeyin Wanaka as part of her ApiNZ apprenticeship studies as well as helping her granddad with his 50 hives on the family's sheep and beef farm, Branch Creek Station.
"It's quite early on for me. I've only just really started my apprenticeship.
"I kind of applied for this scholarship not expecting to get it at all".
She aimed to develop the family farm's business to include tours where she could educate people about sustainable living and the role of beekeeping in that.
"I'm always looking at things we do on the farm and seeing how we can do it better.
"A lot of things with farming get misinterpreted and misunderstood.
"Beekeeping's a good way to show that you're looking after the land, you're looking after the crops and bees are super important, so that's helpful".
Working at Taylor Pass Honey helped her see how a commercial honey operation should operate.
"Taylor Pass is a lot more commercial than what we are, so it's really good to get that perspective.
"It's really efficient and tidy and well done. It's really good to see that and ... change out what we're doing on our property and get things running really smoothly".
The ApiNZ apprenticeship took two years, but there was more to bees than just books, Curtis said.
"Even with the apprenticeship, I feel like once you've completed it you still need the experience and the guidance from them [ApiNZ].
"I wouldn't consider myself qualified afterwards but it's a good step in the right direction".
