Upscaling from Hobbyist to Sideliner - The Business (322)

In this episode of the Upscaling from Hobbyist to Sideliner series, we explore the business side of beekeeping with two beekeepers who successfully made the leap. Hosts Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman are joined by Tara Dawn Chapman of Two Hives Honey in Austin, Texas, and Jay Williams of Williams Honey Farm in Tennessee.

Tara and Jay share their personal journeys—both of which began outside of agriculture—detailing their challenges, missteps, and the pivotal moments that shaped their businesses. From scaling their apiaries to diversifying their revenue streams, they offer practical advice for beekeepers looking to turn their passion into a sustainable business. One of the biggest lessons they emphasize is that beekeeping businesses don't have to rely solely on honey sales. Both guests discuss the role of agribusiness opportunities, including hive tours, honey tastings, VIP yard management, and B2B partnerships. They highlight the importance of branding, marketing, and pricing honey appropriately, noting that storytelling and quality presentation can dramatically increase a product's perceived value.

Throughout the conversation, they reflect on the pitfalls of trying to do everything at once and why finding a niche is key. They explain how agritourism can supplement income, even in regions with inconsistent honey flows, and share insights on hiring employees in a beekeeping business. The discussion also covers state and federal grants that beekeepers can apply for to expand operations, and why pricing honey at premium rates is often more sustainable than undercutting the market.

If you're thinking about expanding your beekeeping beyond the hobbyist level, this episode is packed with insights, strategies, and real-world advice from beekeepers who have successfully made the transition.

If you're looking to make honey harvesting more manageable and efficient, this episode provides the guidance you need to take the next step.

Websites we recommend:

• Williams Honey Farm: https://williamshoneyfarm.com
• Two Hives Honey: https://www.twohiveshoney.com
• Tara's Book, "For The Bees": https://www.amazon.com/Bees-Handbook-Happy-Beekeeping/dp/147732951X
  
  
• Honey Bee Health Coalition: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org
• The National Honey Board: https://honey.com

• Honey Bee Obscura Podcast: https://honeybeeobscura.com
• 2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast: https://2millionblossoms.com

Copyright © 2025 by Growing Planet Media, LLC

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Betterbee is the presenting sponsor of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Betterbee's mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

This episode is brought to you by Global Patties! Global offers a variety of standard and custom patties. Visit them today at http://globalpatties.com and let them know you appreciate them sponsoring this episode!

Thanks to Bee Smart Designs as a sponsor of this podcast! Bee Smart Designs is the creator of innovative, modular and interchangeable hive systems made in the USA using recycled and American sourced materials. Bee Smart Designs - Simply better beekeeping for the modern beekeeper.

Thanks to Strong Microbials for their support of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Find out more about their line of probiotics in our Season 3, Episode 12 episode and from their website: https://www.strongmicrobials.com

Thanks for Northern Bee Books for their support. Northern Bee Books is the publisher of bee books available worldwide from their website or from Amazon and bookstores everywhere. They are also the publishers of The Beekeepers Quarterly and Natural Bee Husbandry.

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We hope you enjoy this podcast and welcome your questions and comments in the show notes of this episode or: questions@beekeepingtodaypodcast.com

Thank you for listening!

Podcast music: Be Strong by Young Presidents; Epilogue by Musicalman; Faraday by BeGun; Walking in Paris by Studio Le Bus; A Fresh New Start by Pete Morse; Wedding Day by Boomer; Christmas Avenue by Immersive Music; Red Jack Blues by Daniel Hart; Original guitar background instrumental by Jeff Ott.

Beekeeping Today Podcast is an audio production of Growing Planet Media, LLC

Copyright © 2025 by Growing Planet Media, LLC