My wife and I made the decision to transition my beekeeping hobby to a business three years ago. Although only a hobbyist for one year prior, the possibilities for building a business, primarily focused on honey sales, fit well into my professional background, the market analysis indicated there was room for us, and how we managed honey collection was a niche market that would allow enhanced pricing. I was fortunate enough to be paired with Matt Lance as a mentor. If you don't know him, his is a creative and forward-thinking beekeeper. With his guidance, I'm ever more confident that Country Road Bees will hit its production goal of 8,000 - 10,000 pounds per year honey production.

As much as I enjoyed my time at the Omaha Bee Club, and the NBA annual meeting, I need more. Both organizations are focused on helping first year, hobbyist beekeepers. Critical and important work to be sure (the Youth Scholarship program will hopefully bring much needed young blood into the industry). I need a club that pushes commercial aspects forward. Topics such as effective online marketing, search engine optimization, honey purity testing, honey tasting, lobbying, why honeys taste different (it is the chemical composition of the nectar not the flower), and consumer education, are just a few of my needs.

If Nebraska wants to sustain a beekeeping industry, there must be profit. Is the NBA a fit or should I keep looking?