Missouri is the first state chapter of the national Heroes to Hives program. Heroes to Hives is a unique program offered through the Michigan Food & Farming Systems that seeks to address financial and personal wellness of veterans through free professional training and community development centered around beekeeping. Veterans leave our program with a broad depth of beekeeping knowledge, as well as personal and professional relationships that open new opportunities and ensure long-term peer support. Our students understand the importance of pollinators in US agriculture and stand to protect managed honeybees through small-scale sustainable beekeeping operations.

Heroes to Hives students participate in a 9-month comprehensive education program that couples online lectures with hands-on learning. Students receive 2-6 hours of lecture content every month from March-November that is pre-recorded so that they can learn at their own pace. On-ground training takes place April-October at our Heroes to Hives apiary located on the University of Central Missouri Mitchell Street Farm, MU Southwest Research Center, and Three Rivers College Farm and Rodeo Arena. Hands-on training includes hive handling, hive inspections, pest and pathogen management, and beekeeping ergonomics. Students who complete the course are eligible to receive a certificate of completion from Michigan State University Extension.