Let’s celebrate the ‘angels of agriculture’ during Pollinator Week in the Bluegrass | Opinion

In 1997, conscientious scientists, researchers and advocates created the nonprofit Pollinator Partnership in an effort to highlight the importance of pollinators to the national food supply. These efforts grew to include Canada and Mexico, and so a subsidiary was formed, the highly successful North American Pollinator Protection Campaign (NAPPC) that awards and acknowledges individual and corporate efforts.

Kentucky has produced two NAPPC award-winners: in 2010, I was honored to be awarded the NAPPC Pollinator Advocate of the Year for my efforts to incorporate pollinator habitat on surface mine sites; and in 2024, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet received the NAPPC Roadside Management Award.

At this point in time, more than 100 acres of pollinator habitat has been created so far within KYTC right-of-ways. With over 27,500 miles of roadway and 23 rest areas across Kentucky, it is KYTC’s intent to create pollinator habitats wherever possible within these areas.

Although there are other highly successful initiatives under the Pollinator Partnership’s umbrella, Pollinator Week is easily the most visible to general audiences in the Bluegrass. Below is a list of the activities, most of which are free, but some requiring a small fee and/or pre-registration:

▪ On June 11, Mayor Linda Gorton will read a Proclamation in Duncan Park at 11:30 a.m.to herald a number of activities happening in Fayette and Franklin counties.

▪ On June 12, the Kentucky State University Farm will be hosting a pollinator habitat workshop with Kristin Conrad (registration required at this link: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=X8mDyxTAMEO_3IjkiBI8pS_ZbJm1lehImSJzzx5BRBBUQUFXOUhQVFE4MDBSUDY4T0VEV0lMWUI1VC4u).

▪ On June 14 at Hisle Park from 10 a.m.-1:00 p.m. there will be a showcase of vendors, including the North American Butterfly Association Central Bluegrass, Wild Birds Unlimited, Wild Ones: Native Plants, Natural Landscapes, Kentucky State University, Columbia Gas Vegetation Management Team, Celebrate Lex and more.

▪ On June 18, Raven Run will be hosting two different events: 2-3:30 for kids; 4:30-6:00 for adults. Each event is free, but registration is highly recommended.

▪ On June 20, Headley Whitney Museum of Art will be hosting a panel of speakers involved with pollinator activities from 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. on June 20

▪ On June 21, McConnell Springs will be hosting the UK Bug Zoo as part of its Jr. Naturalist Program from 10:00-noon, registration through Lexington Parks and Recreation required.

These events and more can be found at the following website: PollinatorLex.com.

In 2022, there were more than 8 billion people in the world — the need to produce food is not just a theoretical question, it is a moral imperative. Pollinators provide seed-set to at least 90 out of 100 crops grown for food. They contribute up to 75% of seed-set on wildflowers, which are often needed by birds and animals. The Pollinator Week events that are taking place in the Bluegrass highlight the myriad of ways that citizens can help pollinators, whether growing container gardens or helping with rights-of-ways. These do not need to be expensive or time-consuming, but they are needed on a consistent and yearly basis. Please join us.

Please consider going to pollinator.org and hosting your own events in your neighborhood! Have a honey-tasting, refill a hummingbird feeder, plant some perennial flowers, and enjoy the fruits and vegetables made possible by the oft-overlooked “angels of agriculture.”

Dr. Tamara Horn Potter is the Beginner Beekeeper grant coordinator at Kentucky State University and the author of “Bees in America: How the Honey Bee Shaped a Nation.”