Owensboro residents Isaac and Sydney Warren entered the beekeeping business more than four years ago when their first child was 1 year old — laying the groundwork for OBeeKY Honey. The husband-and-wife duo was in the midst of severe “cabin fever” during a cold February when Sydney pitched the idea to her husband.
With no experience and a “go-getter” mentality, the two embarked on their journey to beekeeping, primarily relying on others to mentor them along the way. Sydney said local honey for their family was also a plus since their kids “will put it on anything.”
“Neither one of us are the conservative one that exists in most relationships, so there was no one to say no to the idea,” Sydney said. “We were struggling to find local honey, so I told my husband we should do it. We didn’t take any classes nor read any books; I don’t recommend doing it that way.”
The entire experience has turned into a family affair with their son Remy, now 5, serving as the resident taste tester. Their second child Gray is just 1 year old.
Local beekeepers from Owensboro and surrounding communities assisted the Warrens in getting started, most notably Chris Renfrow and Jake Osborne. Osborne works with Kelley Beekeeping — a distributor out of Clarkson, Ky., where they’ve purchased materials and equipment since they began.
“We’ve had a lot of help along the way — the Green River Beekeepers Organization has been a great resource,” Sydney said. “There are definitely some great mentors in the area; we’ve had so much support. That’s what is great about the industry — no one sees each other as competition.”
The process of raising bees and extracting honey is an intricate one with many moving parts. A beekeeper must first lure the bees in by setting out a box with a pair of frames, generally laced with pheromones to entice the bees.
“Think of the hive like an organism with the bees being the cells that make it run,” Sydney said. “The bees will go to a flower to eat and then transfer the enzymes into frames utilizing a natural dehydration process; that’s where the transition from nectar to honey occurs.”
Swarms are how the insects reproduce and are generally the most visible. The Warrens also specialize in removing those swarms from lesser desired areas and transferring them to their bee farm.
Since launching their first hives, the Warrens have expanded their knowledge and fallen more in love with the experience.
“We have fallen in love with these creatures — they are some of the most interesting creatures that you could ever learn about,” she said. “We’re losing them, and they need to be protected. Pollinators are one of the main reasons that we can exist.”
While primarily a hobby, the family generates upwards of 20 gallons per harvest, which sells out quickly. To inquire about purchasing honey or learn more about beekeeping, reach out to them on Facebook here.
