How It All Began

My involvement with beekeeper associations includes charter membership and officerships with the Saughahatchee Beekeepers Association and Alabama Beekeepers Association. I am also certified in the Young Harris/UGA Beekeeping Institute Welsh Honey Judge program.

Claybird Bee Education Association

“Claybird” is the childhood moniker of one of the founder’s children. Clay graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and upon graduation, joined the US Air Force to become a pilot.  Clay became a B1-B pilot and flew 25 combat missions over Iraq and Afghanistan during the 2003 “Shock and Awe” conflict. He, his crew mates, and comrades served with honor. On the night the lights went out in Baghdad, Clay and his fellow crewmen were there. 

Clay went on to serve a one-year assignment as an Air Liaison officer, embedded with Army units in Korea.  During this time, his team of Forward Air Controllers pulled a six month deployment to the Sunni Triangle in Iraq.  There, he and his team logged over 100 combat missions.  Clay was a highly decorated combat pilot, but did not return home.  He is buried in Auburn, Alabama, close to his beloved Auburn University.  Clay’s father proudly named Claybird Bee Education Association in his honor.