Agweek 360 Building live: Bee Keeping 101: From Hives to Honey Many smaller-scale beekeepersin the region contribute to the success of the honey industry. Jonathan Garaas, with 40 years of beekeeping experience, talks beekeeping basics at the Agweek 360 Building. Staff reports | Published on: Sep 9, 2025 Tweet Print North Dakota is the top honey producing state in the country, and nearby states are also leaders in the industry. Beekeeping isn't just a big commercial operation, though, and many smaller-scale beekeepers in the region contribute to the success of the honey industry. Joining us on the Agweek 360 stage at 12:30 p.m. on Sept. 9 was Jonathan Garaas, a soon-to-be retired North Dakota lawyer with more than 50 years of practice who discovered a passion for beekeeping in 2014. Garaas now maintains about ten hives, producing hundreds of pounds of honey each year. He co-founded the Red River Valley Beekeepers, a free-membership club that mentors beginners and answers common bee questions. Beginning in 2025, the club will also maintain an observation hive at the Red River Valley Fairgrounds and educate youth through the Cass County Farm Bureau’s Ag Education Center and the North Dakota Department of Agriculture’s “Living Ag Classroom." Email this Story to a Friend Please provide your name * Please provide an email Please provide your friend's name
