The first Bavarian Honey Queen

Created: 09/14/2022, 18:57

By: Nicole Kalenda

The big moment: Victoria Seeburger's coronation as Bavarian Honey Queen 2022-2024.

© LVBI/VBB

The beekeeping association in and around Gräfelfing is very proud of Victoria Seeburger.

The 32-year-old, who has been a member for less than a year but has been on the board since June, has written a piece of club history: last weekend she was named Bavarian Honey Queen.

Graefelfing

– For the first time, the beekeeping association in and around Gräfelfing presented the Bavarian Honey Queen.

On Saturday, Victoria Seeburger helped at the beekeeper's stand at the Gräfelfingen street festival, on Sunday her predecessor, Katharina Gegg from Neuburg/Donau, put the crown of the honey queen on her in Bad Aibling as part of the Bavarian Beekeeper Days, consisting of golden flowers with a honey-colored drop in it the middle.

For two years now, Seeburger has been representing the almost 40,000 beekeepers who are organized in the State Association of Bavarian Beekeepers and the Association of Bavarian Beekeepers.

Her honey princess Linda Jakob from Kronach is at her side.

Applicants had to submit a short abstract and CV.

The five best were invited to a selection interview at the Bavarian Ministry of Agriculture,

where they tried to convince a jury of their expertise and passion for beekeeping and honey.

Seeburger: "It's about people representing the product who know about it."

Fascinated by beekeeping since childhood

The new queen says: “My first memory of bees are the colonies that grew up with my grandparents at the edge of the forest.

Since then, beekeeping hasn't let go of me.” Together with her father, she keeps Völker in Fürstenfeldbruck, where she lives.

"I look forward to looking through the honeycomb every week: as soon as I open the frames, I immerse myself in another world with the smell of warm bee brood and honey." Seeburgers have between three and five beehives.

"It's more for joy than for honey profit."

Victoria Seeburger turned her passion into a profession: she studied biology and did her doctorate on forest costumes.

Bees collect flower nectar, but for forest honey, honeydew is produced, which insects that feed on the tree sap produce.

Forest costume means that there is enough honeydew for the people to collect.

Seeburger has been a trainee at Germany's highest-circulation beekeeping magazine "bienen & natur" for a year.

Seeburger came to the Würmtal through the magazine, which itself is a member of the Graefelfing and surrounding beekeeping association.

Became secretary in June

"We have a good reputation," says chairwoman Annette Rosellen.

"For decades we have made sure that we regularly bring good speakers to the monthly meetings." Word has gotten around.

The beekeeping association, which describes itself as young and open, has almost 180 members.

Rosellen: "It's important to us that we don't leave anyone alone.

The essentials are bee health and Varroa treatment.” The latter is killing parasitic mites.

Seeburger was very motivated and committed right from the start.

When Natalie Wagner resigned from her position as secretary due to time constraints, the board immediately thought of Seeburger.

Rosellen: "We wanted to have her on the team as a biologist and now we're doubly proud." Seeburger himself says: "I'm completely satisfied.

The club is very active.” She is enthusiastic about the regular lectures, on Friday 30 September she will give one herself (7pm, Lochhamer's El Diablo).

Title: "How forest costume is created, beekeepers recognize honeydew producers and avoid cement honey."