From Hobby to Honey Business | Cedar Rapids News

Two beekeepers near Winfield, Ted Hermann and Chad Venghaus, just wrapped up a big honey harvest from forty hives, pulling “supers” filled with golden comb using smoke to gently herd the bees aside. What started as a small 2014 hobby has grown into a serious passion—with their own queen breeding program to boost production and slash costs. They’re resourceful, fixing used gear and leaning on a tight-knit beekeeper community for support. After collecting nearly a thousand pounds of honey, they’re doubling their hives and eyeing formal sales channels to turn this side hustle into a sustainable business—mirroring the struggles and hopes of most Iowa beekeepers trying to scale without breaking the bank. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/f59d3fc6b628fa66