Beekeeper raising money for grand champion Heavin

Friday, September 18, 2009
Tyler Heavin

LADOGA -- Bob Congleton of Ladoga is a beekeeper. So is Putnam County resident Tyler Heavin who was named grand champion of honey at this year's state fair.

Congleton is raising funds for Heavin because of his concern for a policy change at the State Fair this year that prevented Heavin's prize-winning honey from being raffled.

"Those raffles usually raise between $4,500 to $6,500 for the grand champion. This year the State Fair policy changed and the honey wasn't raffled off," said Congleton.

"Heavin is a college student and he worked hard with his bees. I think he deserves this. So I am trying to raise money through donations to make up the difference for the raffle," added Congleton.

This year's policy change was announced in the catalog, but beekeepers were not aware of it until auction time.

Heavin has been keeping bees for more than 10 years as a 4-H project. He currently has five hives.

He is a 2009 graduate of South Putnam High School, is a Lilly Scholar and currently attends Franklin College, where he is majoring in pre med. He is the son of Melinda Heavin.

"I hope all the businesses around the county will make a small donation that we can give to Tyler. He did all the work and he deserved his win," said Congleton.

Anyone interested in donation to Congleton's fund for Heavin can call him at 866-8329 or 918-7308.

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: