Consider attending a regional or National conference in 2017! Lots to chose from- here is a sample
Young Harris Beekeeping Institute May 10th- May 13th 2017 in Georgia (includes Welsh Honey Judge training)
Virginia State Beekeepers Association- June 17-18th, 2017 at Ferrum College
Heartland Apicultural Society July 2017 in Evansville, IN
Eastern Apicultural Society 2017 (only 2 hours away in Newark, DE) July 31- Aug. 4th Short Course and Conference (includes a honey show)
Bee Culture Sometime in mid to late October, 2017- Meet the Bee Culture authors. Medina, Ohio
The Maryland State Beekeepers have a meeting usually in College Park, MD in June and February 2017
Coming up in 2018
American Bee Federation January - maybe in Reno, NV (includes a honey show)
Florida Bee College St. Augustine, FL March (includes Welsh Honey Judge training)
Eastern Apicultural Society (EAS) in Virginia - August 13-17, 2018 in Hampton, VA