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, Three Rivers Community College and the University of Missouri–St. Louis. 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.