North Carolina is home to more beekeepers per capita than anywhere else in the country, making it a vital industry in our state for many reasons. Brandon Simmons, owner of Foothills Farm and Apiary in Taylorsville, is not just raising bees and making honey through his operation, but he is actively working to ensure a sustainable future for beekeepers across our state and beyond through his breeding program, outreach and education.
Brandon learned at a young age how to respect and raise bees from his grandfather. “My grandfather first introduced me to honeybees and inspired my passion for beekeeping,” Brandon said. “What began as an appreciation for working bees evolved into a fascination with honeybee biology, genetics, and selective breeding.” Foothills Farm & Apiary was established in 2017, along with their specialized insemination breeding program. From then until now, Brandon has grown the operation to house over 250 honeybee colonies each year. “My work centers on queen production and instrumental insemination, with the goal of producing healthier, more resilient honeybees, while educating and mentoring the next generation of beekeepers,” he said. “I am proud to be recognized as both an Appalachian Grown producer and a Got to Be NC member, reflecting our farm’s commitment to supporting North Carolina agriculture and providing high-quality products and locally adapted honeybee genetics.” In addition to owning and operating the apiary, Brandon is also a full-time glass blower.
The specialized honeybee breeding program focuses on selective breeding and instrumental insemination to improve traits such as disease resistance, hygienic behavior, temperament, productivity, and overall colony health. Through this program, Brandon and his team are working to develop locally adapted honeybee stock that is better suited to thrive in our state, while also reducing their reliance on chemical treatments. “Each breeder queen is selected through detailed record keeping and multi-trait evaluation, allowing us to make informed breeding decisions based on real-world performance,” Brandon explained. “Our goal is to produce well-rounded, regionally adapted queens that provide long-term value to both beekeepers and the honeybees themselves.”
In peak season, which is late spring to early summer, Brandon and his team are making 150 queens on average per week. This time of year, however, they are making around 40 queens per week. “Grafting queens is my favorite part of the job because I am helping create life,” he said. The grafted larvae are put into a cell builder where it takes four days to make queen cells. From there, the larvae will be placed in an incubator where they will stay for about ten days until the queens hatch. “Once the queens hatch, I typically allow them to stay in the incubator for a few hours before moving them to the hive,” Brandon said. “Once in the hive, we evaluate colonies for gentle temperament, hygienic behavior, Varroa mite resistance, overwintering performance, queen longevity and overall colony health.” Although selective breeding is hard work and can be challenging at times, Brandon wouldn’t trade a single thing for the joy he experiences each day at the apiary. “Selective breeding is a long-term commitment that requires patience, consistency, and detailed record keeping. Every breeding decision influences future generations, so evaluating colonies over multiple seasons is essential,” he said. “Balancing all of these factors while making meaningful genetic progress is both the greatest challenge and one of the most rewarding aspects of my work.” In addition to raising bees, creating local products and selective breeding, Brandon also participates in many outreach activities that seek to educate beekeepers and community members alike on the importance of honeybees in our state.
Throughout the year, Brandon speaks at a variety of events, including conferences, county events, beekeeper’s clubs, schools, farmers markets and more. “Education has become one of the most rewarding parts of what I do,” he said. “I believe sharing knowledge is just as important as producing quality queens because stronger, better-informed beekeepers ultimately strengthen our entire industry.” Honeybees, and other pollinators in our state, play a vital role for many of the fruits, vegetables and specialty crops grown here. In fact, over 75% of flowering plants and over 1,000 crops grown in our state depend on pollinators! This is one of the many reasons it is important for the community to learn about pollinators and how to keep them safe across the state. “Strong pollinator populations directly support crop yields, food production, and the success of our agricultural communities,” Brandon said. “By investing in honeybee health through responsible management, education, and selective breeding, we can help ensure that North Carolina agriculture continues to thrive for generations to come.”
Products from Foothills Farm & Apiary, like local honey, beeswax candles, nucleus colonies and queens, can be found online on their website at www.foothillsfarmnc.com, as well as in-person at the apiary. Brandon also shares regular updates on their social media channels, so be sure to follow their Facebook and Instagram profiles.
From creating local products to educating the community and producing strong honeybee genetics, Brandon is making a strong impact on our state’s agriculture industry through his operation. “Healthy honeybee populations are essential to both beekeepers and agriculture,” he said. “I believe that combining quality genetics with education and mentorship creates lasting benefits that extend well beyond our own operation. If I can have even a 1% impact on the future of beekeepers and honeybees in our state, then I will have accomplished what I set out to do.” We are proud of Brandon and all that he is doing for the pollinators and beekeepers in our state. If you are interested in learning more, or meeting Brandon at a local event, check out their website and social media pages to get involved!
