© 2017-2025. Haywood County Beekeepers Chapter                                                  webmaster@hcbees.org                                Privacy Policy

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Our Commitment

It is the function of the Haywood County Beekeepers Chapter (HCBC) Board Members to govern the bee club in accordance with the Constitution and Bylaws of the chapter and promote friendship between all beekeeper members. As officers and directors of the club, we are at the disposal of our members, to serve them in the best manner possible, while helping to promote a healthy relationship between all club members and our local communities. Below, you will find short biographical summaries of each board member, describing their beekeeping experience and other attributes of their life.

When I was One, I had just begun.  When I was Two, I was nearly new.  When I was Three, I was hardly me.  When I was Four, I was not much more.  When I was Five, I was just alive.  But now I am seventy-six, And I’m smarter than sticks.  So, I think I'll be seventy-six now, Forever and ever.

My wife Ann and I have lived at 3500 feet in a rural section of Haywood County for 21 years. We had been concerned about the declining bee population when Ann saw a notice for a two-day introduction to beekeeping.  We went to get a general idea about the situation with the bees and won a smoker, one package of bees, and one bee jack with a hood.  Reluctantly, we became bee keepers.  During the last eight years we have experienced many more good years than bad.  We are busy people so the monthly HCBC meetings became our bee school providing major resources for all we have learned from splits to swarms to fighting varroa mites and more.  These meetings with the outside speakers and members ensure that we walk away with something new learned every month.  In addition, membership in HCBC and North Carolina State Bee Association has provided invaluable site visits and resources.  The honey we harvest is fantastic for our own personal consumption and our neighbors, friends and family are always eager to receive our honey gifts.  So, although we might have been reluctant beekeepers at first, aiding these wonderful creatures has become a rewarding hobby that benefits us personally as well as the nature that surrounds us.  

“Don’t go near the Bees” , Mama said every Sunday when we went to my Grandparents farm and orchard. My first lessons in beekeeping. At 60 years old , 12 years ago, I finally went near the bees. I became a beekeeper , mentored by my close friend Rick Queen. Two years later I passed the Journeyman level of NC State Master beekeeping program, moved to Haywood County, and assist Rick with 30+ colonies plus a few nucs for Queen rearing and resources. I’m passionate about honeybees and educating children to adults about honeybees.  Still learning about bees , I have a few hives of “my own” , and enjoy making splits and catching swarms , looking for that perfect queen.

I met my wife, Melanie, while attending Appalachian State University. We always said we would return to the NC Mountains we fell in love as soon as we could, so when I retired from the Army in 2013 we made a bee-line to Western NC and settled in Clyde. I have tried my hand at bee keeping several times since 2013 but found that without some bee education, bee-keeping is really only bee-having (for a limited time). I really only consider myself a bee-keeper for the past year or so. In addition to the bees, I raise goats and alpacas. Melanie and I own the WNC Real Estate Store in Maggie Valley and enjoy working with home buyers and sellers. When we’re not doing that, you can find us on our farm, Windsong Vista Farm, just below Cedar Cliff Mountain in the Crabtree area of Clyde.

Allen's adventure into beekeeping began as a youngster when his father and grandfather were beekeepers in the mid 70's.  Allen states, "Beekeeping is an enjoyable hobby of mine and I have been keeping bees for over ten years.” Further, Allen has completed the Master Beekeeper or third of four levels in the Master Beekeepers Program with the North Carolina State Beekeepers Association (NCSBA)." Allen has also completed sessions one and two of the NC 'Born & Bred' program and he is currently engaging in queen rearing and making splits. He is using natural methods including the NICOT system of rearing queen bees. Allen currently serves as an NCSBA Mountain Regional Director.

In closing, Allen has been in Pastoral ministry for over twenty years and was the Pastor of Center Pigeon Baptist Church for ten years in Haywood County. Allen is currently serving as interim pastor of the Meadow Grove Baptist Church and he lives in the Bethel community with his wife, Debbie. They have one daughter, Trisha, who is a graduate of Pensacola Christian College in Pensacola, Florida with a master’s degree in nursing and is currently serving on teaching staff at Pensacola Christian College.

     I think my interest in beekeeping goes back to when I was a young child and I was aware that my grandfather kept bees around the sand ridges and swamps of the Florida panhandle. We always had tupelo honey with warm biscuits whenever I stayed with my grandparents, a very fond memory. As far back as I could remember, I have wanted to keep bees like granddaddy; however, work and raising a family always came first and didn’t leave the money or time to pursue that interest. As my kids started with their own families, I found in 2015 that I was finally able to start this new hobby. I obtained by first hives in the spring of 2016 and had ups and downs over the first few years but generally my losses have declined and finally were zero last winter. When I started, I wanted to have 10 hives and this year I slightly exceeded that number. My wife also wanted us to keep bees so they could pollinate her large garden and so that we could provide honey for friends and family. I did not expect to sell honey, but this has turned out to be fun part of it and becoming a Certified Honey Producer through the State Association has been very helpful. My plan is to maintain 10 production hives plus whatever nucs I can make over the year. The nucs will be used to replace queens and to help other beekeepers who may have losses. Since I will officially be retired at the end of 2025, I thought this was a good time to provide more service to the HCBC and to do what I can to make our chapter the best it can be.

A transplant from the deep south to the mountains of Western North Carolina, I forged a sincere appreciation for nature and the wildlife in the area.  Once here, I took notice of the diverse plant life in the mountains and began to understand how this diversity could impact the local honey.  I became interested in beekeeping several years ago. However, I did not get started until 2023, when I took a beekeeping class at Haywood Community College. But, during those years, I sought information on the topic.

In my research, it became apparent how honey is not just natures’ sweet treat, but truly a gift from God. That research led me down the rabbit hole to discover how amazing honey bees are as creatures.  That discovery and interest got the best of me, and I became a beekeeper hobbyist following the class at Haywood Community College, as taught by a fellow bee club member, David Zachary.  As I delved into the local beekeeper community, my interest grew with the help of the members of the Haywood County Beekeepers Association.

A native of Mississippi, I’ve called these beautiful mountains home since 2007, where my family and I have had the privilege of raising all five of our children. While I’ve always had an interest in beekeeping, I didn’t dive into the hobby and lifestyle until 2023. Over the past five years, I had the opportunity to work alongside several coworkers who were beekeepers, and our conversations sparked a curiosity that led me to explore the world of beekeeping more deeply. Little did I know it would ignite a life-changing passion.

Since starting my beekeeping journey, I’ve been learning something new every day, and I plan to keep it that way. I’m constantly seeking out different management styles and techniques to see what works best for me. The most rewarding part of it all has been the incredible community of like-minded individuals who share their knowledge, support, and encouragement—helping one another succeed in this amazing hobby. I currently manage about 10 production hives .

© 2017-2025. Haywood County Beekeepers Chapter                                                  webmaster@hcbees.org                                Privacy Policy