Ben & Kimberly Carpenter

2016 EAS Master Beekeepers, Owners of Hungry Bear Farms, Ross Rounds & Finger Lakes Bee Company, LLC

We began our hobby farm in 2008 located in the beautiful Finger Lakes of NY State. Just off Canandaigua Lake, we are in the valley nestled at the base of a hill surrounded by woods and wildlife. In 2010, we started a beekeeping supply store to help out the local beekeeping club since there were no supply stores close by. Little did we know the journey that decision would take us on. There have been a lot of ups and downs like with any small business starting out but we've overcome many challenges together and have continued to grow by leaps and bounds each year.

In 2016, we finally reached a goal we have been working on for several years and both received our certification of becoming EAS (Eastern Apiculture Society) Master Beekeepers. Additionally, that year we were in negotiations to purchase the Ross Rounds & Sundance Pollen Traps company from long time owner, Lloyd Spear and that came to fruition on January 1st of 2017. Along with purchasing Ross Rounds, we also formed our parent company, Finger Lakes Bee Company, LLC.

It has been an exciting journey since that day as we've continued to not only grow our bee supply business as Hungry Bear Farms but also now to continue growing the Ross Rounds business.